Synopses & Reviews
The author was the first to forecast (in 1997) the events that ruptured the global economy in 2008 by applying an analysis that exposes the fault lines in the structure of the market economy. Now, he extends his analysis to the future of the West, to evaluate fears from distinguished commentators who claim that European civilisation is in danger of being eclipsed. He concludes that the West is at a dangerous tipping point and provides empirical and theoretical evidence to warrant such an alarming conclusion. But he also explains why it is not too late to prevent the looming social catastrophe.
Attributing the present crisis to a social process of cheating, he develops a synthesis of the social and natural sciences to show how the market system can be reformed. He introduces the concept of organic finance, which prescribes reforms capable of delivering both sustainable growth, with a more equitable distribution of wealth, and respect for other life forms.
To explain the persistent failure to resolve protracted social and environmental crises, the author introduces a theory of social trauma. Populations have been destabilised by the coercive loss of land to the point where they have lost their traditional reference points. No longer able to live by the laws of nature, they are forced to conform to laws that consolidate the privileges of those who had cheated them of their birthright: access to natures resources. Many pathological consequences flow from this tearing of people from their social and ecological habitats. To recover from this state of trauma, the author argues, people need to use the new tools of communication, such as social media, to regain control over their future destiny through a kind of collective psychosocial therapy.
The author challenges the view that the West can climb out of depression by applying the financial measures known as “austerity”. He outlines a new strategy that would restore full employment and reverse the decline in middle class living standards in Europe and North America.
Review
"For anyone seeking to understand the vagaries of the housing market, this is a fascinating read." —Jeff Howell, Sunday Telegraph
Review
"The Traumatised Society is a staggering work that presents nothing less than a new paradigm. Simply stated the premise is this: the theft of a nations economic surplus is the root cause of all the worlds major problems." —Wayne Sturgeon, Fourth World Review
Review
"This analysis integrates many data and many explanations to attack private land ownership as the basis of current economics. Harrison argues that cultural genocide ... has afflicted Western civilization ... [He] relates this to the omission of land as a term from the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to the evisceration of economic rent by neo-classical economics." —International Journal of Environmental Studies
Synopsis
Attributing the present global economic crisis to a social process of cheating, this discussion develops a synthesis of the social and natural sciences to show how the market system can be reformed to restore harmony between nature and society. It introduces the concept of organic finance, which prescribes reforms capable of delivering both sustainable growth and respect for other life forms. In addition, the book challenges the view that the West can climb out of depression by applying financial austerity measures; instead, it outlines a new strategy that would restore full employment and reverse the decline in middle-class living standards in Europe and North America.
About the Author
Fred Harrison is the research director of Land Research Trust, a former investigative journalist, and a former consultant to a number of Russian academic and political bodies, including the Duma (parliament). He is the author of several books, including Boom Bust, The Corruption of Economics, The Predator Culture, Ricardo's Law, and The Silver Bullet.