by Murray Bookchin AK Press 1/11/2004, paperback SKU: 9781904859062 In a series of related essays, Murray Bookchin balances his ecological and anarchist vision with the promising opportunities of a "post-scarcity" era. Surpassing Marxist political economy, which was rooted in an era of material scarcity, Bookchin argues that the tools necessary for the self-administration of society have largely been developed and, that, combined with an ecological outlook have greatly altered our revolutionary landscape. Technological advances made during the twentieth century have expanded production greatly, but in the pursuit of corporate profit and at the expense of human need and ecological sustainability. Far from a time when "capital accumulation" could be considered a prerequisite for liberation, the working class now more than ever can dispel the myth that obstructions such as the state, hierarchical social relations, and political parties (vanguards) are necessary appendages to their struggle for freedom. Bookchin's utopian vision, rooted in the realities of contemporary society, remains refreshingly pragmatic. Perhaps his most influential collection of essays (includig the legendary 'Listen Marxist' 'Ecology And Revolutionary Thought') this new third edition includes a new preface from the author. Reviews: "Bookchin makes a trenchant analysis of modern society, and offers a pointed, provocative discussion of the ecological crisis." —Library Journal About the Author: Murray Bookchin is cofounder of the Institute for Social Ecology. An active voice in the ecology and anarchist movements for more than forty years, he has written numerous books and articles, including: Anarchism, Marxism and the Future of the Left, Social Anarchism or Lifestyle Anarchism, The Spanish Anarchists, The Ecology of Freedom, Urbanization Without Cities, and Re-enchanting Humanity. He lives in Burlington, Vermont.
