New North American Political Network Emerges from the Grassroots
Local direct democracy groups across North America are assembling a revolutionary confederation
New book from Matt Hern
Long-time ISE lecturer Matt Hern has an excellent new book just out, combining an extended travelogue to the center of Canada’s tar sands with an engaging dose of social theory and free-form political commentary. Here’s what the publisher, MIT Press, says about Global Warming and the Sweetness of Life: A Tar Sands Tale, co-written by …
Reason, creativity and freedom: The communalist model
On the unique relevance of communalism in this historical moment. By Eleanor Finley, originally published by ROAR Magazine.
Social Ecology, Kurdistan, & the Origins of Freedom
Reflections on a recent visit to Turkey and North Kurdistan. Many Kurdish revolutionaries describe their struggle as one of organic society against authoritarian society and have forged a unique role in the continuing evolution of human freedom.
On the Necessity of Dialectical Naturalism
A recent article in the journal Antipode situates Murray Bookchin’s theory of dialectical naturalism within the broader dialectical tradition, and contrasts his approach with Herbert Marcuse’s technological pessimism.
New book: Social Ecology and Social Change
In September last year New Compass organized a conference in collaboration with the University of Oslo called Ecological Challenges. Some of the questions we asked were: How can we create a society that is ecological as well as egalitarian? How can we develop new forms of activism that are constructive as well as confrontational? How …
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ROAR Magazine interview with Debbie Bookchin
ROAR Magazine (Reflections on a Revolution), one of the very best websites chronicling today’s protest movements and global uprisings, has posted an extended interview with Debbie Bookchin about her father’s legacy and the importance of his essays collected in the book, The Next Revolution, co-edited by Debbie and ISE board member Blair Taylor. The interview …
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Ursula LeGuin on Murray Bookchin
“Capitalism’s grow-or-die imperative stands radically at odds with ecology’s imperative of interdependence and limit. The two imperatives can no longer coexist with each other; nor can any society founded on the myth that they can be reconciled hope to survive. Either we will establish an ecological society or society will go under for everyone, irrespective of his or her status.”
Eyewitnesses to the Kurdish revolution
Last December a delegation, including social ecologists, visited the Kurdish region of Syria – known as Rojava – to experience their implementation of “democratic confederalism”…
NY Times letter on Kobane
From the New York Times editorial page, November 25, 2014. Also see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-schumacher-and-debbie-bookchin/the-kurdish-experiment-in-radical-decentralism_b_5996184.html: To the Editor: Re: “More Than a Battle, Kobani Is a Publicity War” (front page, Nov. 20): While the Syrian border town of Kobani may be viewed as a public relations battle by the United States and the Islamic State, Kobani’s true …