The crisis and the left

Since 1964, the Socialist Register has brought together leading writers on the left to investigate aspects of a common theme. "Coming to Terms with Nature: Socialist Register 2007" examines whether capitalism can come to terms with today's ecological challenges and whether socialist thought has developed sufficiently to help us do so. The topics include: the ecological contradictions of capitalist accumulation and the growing social conflicts they create; the relationship between imperialism, markets, oil politics, and renewable energy; the significance of the impasse over the Kyoto protocol; and, whether market forces and technology can overcome the "limits to growth" while preserving the biosphere. These essays also analyze how deeply consumerism affects working class politics and the shortcomings of Green parties and "green commerce." In addition, they address the neeed to redefine standards of living, chiefly in the countries of the North, in order to allow for the global redistribution of wealth and income that are critical for development in the South. The international roster of contributors includes Mike Davis, Neil Smith, Enrique Leff, Joan Martinez-Alier, Elmar Altvater, and Michael Lowy.