WHAT'S LEFT

Confronting planet-scale problems.

In this frank examination, author and political progressive Harris explores the options he contends are viable in averting a climate crisis. Throughout, he focuses on three strategies, noting the potential for and challenges of each: marketcraft, public power, and communism. (He defines “marketcraft” as a concept in which proponents “see markets as functions of public policies.”) “Without an increased level of coordination,” Harris writes, “I don’t think any of the strategies can succeed on its own.” For example, “underlying the marketcraft strategy for a green transition is the sometimes unspoken, sometimes overt idea that capital will use substitute technologies to replace fossil fuels.” As the author argues, the marketcraft strategy thus would require a supplement to be successful. He writes, “Public power says that we have to face choices about what kind of society we want to make head-on, not contract them out to entrepreneurs.” Harris contends that some areas of social life would be better off without capitalists, such as the medical system; however, he argues that “there is some role for technological innovation in the fight against climate change and its effects on people and nature.” Harris maintains that to be successful, all partisans need to move forward together. He also addresses the fears and anxieties that he says have kept us from taking collective action, including inefficiency, disorder, and complicity. Harris also discusses points that he feels hold the individual strategies together and proposes ways for them to interact successfully, including the creation of disaster councils with all partisans meeting as equals to prepare for the fight together. As he concludes, “in certain moments, everyone’s work is aligned because there really is no choice.”

A thoughtful, well-researched, and compelling addition to the discussion of how to save our planet.