Realizing Hope Life Beyond Capitalism

Something is profoundly wrong with capitalist globalization, as neo-liberal policies continue to vastly increase the disparity between rich and poor. 'What is the alternative?' is a question challenging activists around the world. Michael Albert has wrestled with this question for many years, and his answer has captured the imagination of many in both North and South. 'Participatory Economics' - 'Parecon' for short - is Albert's proposal for an economic system which offers a real alternative to capitalism, built on familiar values including solidarity, equity, diversity. In this ambitious new book, Albert goes further. Realising Hope offers a vision of how whole areas of life might be transformed in a post-capitalist society. Whether exploring the way we work, our relationship to the earth, or the transformation of global financial institutions, communities rather than profit are always firmly at the centre. 'Realizing Hope extends to just about every major domain of human concern and mode of human interaction, and investigates with care and insight how, in these domains, parecon-like principles could lead to a far more desirable society than anything that exists, and also how these goals can be constructively approached. It is another very valuable and provocative contribution to the quest for a world of much greater freedom and justice.' - Noam Chomsky, USA 'Realizing Hope opens many doors for social vision and strategy. At a moment when Africa needs an alternative to nationalist politics, Realizing Hope is amazingly timely. Pan-Africanists and Black Marxists alike will find much in this book to enrich and expand our politics.' - Mandisi Majavu, South Africa 'A better world is indeed possible and not just a Utopia. Michael Albert points the way towards a society based on participation and justice. Utopia is somewhere that does not exist yet. This book can help turn a dream into reality.' - Vittorio Agnoletto, Italy 'Albert captures the best of the spirit of the new global social movements. He combines close empirical insights with a magisterial conceptual grasp. We will be arguing about this work for years.' Andrej Grubacic, Serbia 'Realizing Hope mulls over the better society that we may create after capitalism, provoking much thought and offering a generous, hopeful vision of the future. Albert's prescriptions for action in the present are modest and wise; his suggestions for building the future are ambitious and humane.' - Milan Rai, Britain 'Millions across the world are coming together in hitherto unprecedented networks of solidarity to struggle against poverty, inequality, discrimination, and war. These fighters proclaim that a better world is possible. Realizing Hope challenges us to imagine how.' - Sudhanva Deshpande, India 'Realizing Hope goes beyond the primarily economic framework of participatory economics to open the crucial but too rarely posed questions of how to coordinate economic change with the changes we need in other spheres of life.' - Jeremy Brecher, USA 'Michael Albert passionately argues for a different future where equity, diversity, justice, and self-management are more than just distant dreams. Realizing Hope does not shy away from the awesome complexity of human issues, nor does it reek of the stultifying dogmatism of so many left-wing tracts. One can disagree at places, but it forces the reader to think and be conscious of choices.' - Pervez Hoodbhoy, Pakistan. 'Anyone disgusted with existing society - which is to say, just about everyone - who wants to know if there are any alternatives will find Realizing Hope informative, provocative, creative, engaging, and, yes, full of hope.' - Stephen R. Shalom, USA