Summary of the main argument in Who Rules the Earth
In his book Who Rules the Earth?: How Social Rules Shape Our Planet and Our Lives, Steinberg informs us that social rules are everywhere; these rules and regulations are embedded in every aspect of our lives even if they are not immediately noticeable to us (Steinberg 2015). To help make these underlying social rules apparent to the reader, Steinberg takes us for a walk on the beach and points out many of the hidden restrictions involved in this seemingly free and unrestricted activity. After showing us that social rules are indeed everywhere, Steinberg argues that in order to instil real change for the face of the environment we must look up to these institutions for guidance. He suggests that in order to implement any change that will take effect, we must use these social rules as the mechanism to do so. Throughout the book, Steinberg includes a lot of insight and thought regarding the role of the government in affecting both these social rules and in the overall effort to improve the state of our environment. One important idea that comes up in his discussion of government influence is that “we need to think vertically” (Steinberg 2015, 163). Steinberg states that “if we are serious about promoting sustainability–if we wish to move beyond the current infatuation with green consumerism, and tackle the underlying causes of environmental problems–we cannot confine our energies to one level of governance” (Steinberg 2015, 163). Here, Steinberg argues that government is a powerful resource in implementing change and that we must make sure to utilize multiple levels of governance to receive the greatest outcome. Overall, the author’s main argument is that changing social rules will ultimately lead to change for the betterment of our environment.
How Who Rules the Earth applies to my life
I have strong interests in the natural sciences and conservation. I am still unsure of what exactly I want to do after college but I do know that I will most likely pursue some type of ecological research or conservation biology. For the application to ecology and conservation, chapter four of Who Rules the Earth, regarding the cerulean warbler and property management is extremely useful (Steinberg 2015, ch 4). In this chapter, Steinberg breaks down the migration of the cerulean warbler and describes many property establishments and social rules that have influenced the species across various times and locations. I have learned that in entering the fields of ecology and conservation biology, it is extremely important to be able to identify and understand these societal rules and regulations that ultimately influence a species’ wellbeing. This book has made it clear to me that for my interests in contributing to conservation efforts I must be able to consider and track social rules, particularly in regards to property rights and establishments, to understand and ultimately be able to contribute to the conservation of a particular species or habitat.
Another key lesson that I learned from reading this book is that in the fields of conservation biology and ecology, in order for me or anyone to establish any real change on behalf of a particular species or region, we must turn to institutions and government systems for help. To most effectively work towards change, Steinberg gives some useful suggestions towards the end of the book. Steinberg first encourages that we share and spread as much knowledge and information as we can. Additionally, he encourages that we use previous attempts towards environmental solutions and consultations with experts of institutions to guide us in creating an effective system (Steinberg 2015, ch 11). These ideas and resources will be extremely helpful to me in my future conservation efforts.
The final lesson I took away from this book is that I should not altogether abandon my individualist ideas. Although Steinberg has made it clear that institutions are the key ingredients for change, he tells us in the last chapter to not give up our individual actions. He states that “it is a matter of balance, complementing these everyday acts of individual conscience with larger actions that promote social change” (Steinberg 2015, 278). After reading this book, I now understand that I should stick to my individual actions but at the same time understand that larger institutions are needed for large spread change. In effect, this has confirmed my understanding that individual efforts must be coupled with institutional action in working towards environmental solutions.
References
Steinberg, Paul F. 2015. Who Rules the Earth?: How Social Rules Shape Our Planet and Our Lives. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.