Paul Sternberg’s book Who Rules the World addresses how to confront climate change by taking a step back and focusing on social rules. This piece of writing appeals strongly to the sociological mindset of comprehending social institutions and the role they play in creating lasting change. Sternberg’s reason for writing this book is to share the vast collection of knowledge on environmental issues to concerned readers in hopes that they will contribute to the paths he’s developed in creating social change to address environmental change. He identifies that sustainable change is not easy, but that it is possible when people join together with a common goal in mind.
In his introduction to his research, Steinberg explaining the abundance and importance of social rules. He shows how social rules and regulations work, and says at their best, “Social rules protect human rights and promote long-term prosperity. At their worst, social rules compromise elaborate systems for the subjugation of entire peoples and promote the pursuit of the quick buck regardless of the cost to our economy and our ecology.” (Steinberg, 26)
Steinberg starts his research by addressing the question of ‘If social change is so easy, why aren’t we already living in a perfect world?’ He claims that what hinders us from progress is the barrier of the problem of collective action. To prove his claim, he quotes Mancur Olson- “Even when there is unanimous agreement in a group about the common good and the methods of achieving it, rational, self interested individuals will not act to achieve their common or group interests.” Why won’t they do so? Because there is no incentive in which to profit selfishly from.
Next, Steinberg claims that in order to change social rules we must address who is in charge of creating those rules. We find that rules are created on all levels; local, state, national and international. Steinberg then focuses on the role that social rules play in the operation of market economies and the role those economies play in environmental policy. The rules that create economies can either foster or destroy innovation. Steinberg argues that government regulation is detrimental to whether economies function well. And that how desirable is is for markets to have environmental regulations depends on the rules put in place and how these rules relate to interests, abilities and vulnerabilities of the people causing and those experiencing environmental degradation.
He then analyzes how to create stable rules in unstable governments and which rules can be dangerous and resistant to improvement. He explains that sometimes government instability and upheaval can create a platform for real reform, but may also only being ephemeral before the next crisis arises. Its often the case that local governments are asked to implement laws they had no hand in creating. He remarks “ The most effective rules are those that enjoy legitimacy among those governed by them.” (Steinberg, 145)
Steinberg argues that the rise of the European Union is changing the answer to ‘who rules the world?’ because it values environmental prosperity. He insists that the European Union can function properly in creating prosperity because smaller nations can implement large scale change on their home front, then push for its growth at the European level, “They think vertically.” (Steinberg, 181)
Another factor that is shifting is the trend of political decentralization, in which smaller and more local governments are gaining more power. We have seen in history that growth of nations usually starts with concentrated power – America being an outlier- but that many countries are starting to change course and give local governments more authority. In order to address environmental problems, Steinberg argues “We cannot confine our energies to one level of governance.” (Steinberg, 163)
Steinberg ends his book by explaining the importance of replacing old rules with new rules that can endure time. He says “Permeance is part of the machinery of change.” (Steinberg, 223) He makes point to find the balance though, and to establish rules that can be adapted for the generations to follow.
This book creates an easy to follow demonstration of why the environmental legislation is the way it is, and shows that rules are mutable and that we must work to change them in order to create environmental prosperity. It shows that the earth can be exploited, but with work and dedication we can protect our environment and create stability for the generations to follow. This book creates a positive incentive to continue to push for social change and government involvement.
References:
Steinberg, Paul F. 2015. Who Rules the Earth?: How Social Rules Shape Our Planet and Our Lives. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.