Synopses & Reviews
The Politics of Total Liberation vividly articulates the crises haunting the social and natural worlds, which are coming apart under the impact of global capitalism, human overpopulation, species extinction, and runaway climate change. Steven Best contextualizes the 21st century as the decisive moment in human history wherein our actions will determine whether the future will be merely burdensome or catastrophic. Overcoming this crisis demands a new politics of total liberation that unites the disparate movements for human, animal, and earth liberation. Avoiding bravado or false optimism, Best questions humanity's ability to rise to the occasion, and dares to imagine a "world without us."
Synopsis
This book argues that there is an ongoing planetary crisis, in both the social and natural worlds, that is of urgent importance. This demands a new politics, a politics of total liberation, one that grasps the need to unite the disparate movements for human, animal, and earth liberation. In the book, Best outlines a way forward despite challenges.
Synopsis
The Politics of Total Liberation: Revolution for the 21st Century explores the urgent importance of the ongoing planetary crisis in both the social and natural worlds. Best believes the most promising and relevant politics for this century will focus not on class struggle or fragmented identity politics, but a politics of total liberation that grasps commonalities among various forms of oppression that recognizes the interdependence and common goals of various liberation movements, and that forges appropriate political alliances.
Synopsis
Twenty-first century international politics is marked by a growing willingness among states to unite around the common cause of addressing urgent, ongoing global crises in both the social and natural worlds—but progress is slow. In Politics of Total Liberation, Best argues in support of this trend, claiming that the most promising and relevant politics for this century will focus not on class struggle or fragmented identity politics, but on a politics of total liberation that grasps commonalities among various forms of oppression, recognizes the interdependence and common goals of various liberation movements, and forges appropriate political alliances.
About the Author
Steven Best is an award-winning writer, noted international speaker, public intellectual, and seasoned activist with over 30 years in diverse political movements. He is Associate Professor of Humanities and Philosophy at the University of Texas at El Paso, USA.
Table of Contents
1. The Animal Standpoint
2. The New Abolitionism. Capitalism, Slavery, and Animal Liberation
3. The Paralysis of Pacifism. In Defense of Militant Direct Action
4. Rethinking Revolution. Veganism, Animal Liberation, Ecology, and the Left
5. Minding the Animals. Cognitive Ethology and the Obsolescence of Left Humanism
6. Moral Progress and the Struggle for Human Evolution
Conclusion