Who Rules the Earth? (Steinberg 2015) is a book about action. The text highlights many examples of successful and unsuccessful environmental policy throughout the past and how we can use this information to make better decisions in the future. It also discusses different ideas and problems with our current attempts at solving the problems that we have created. The primary argument of Who Rules the Earth? (Steinberg 2015) is that institutional action is the best and most effective way to combat climate change and help with conservation efforts. The author defends this by explaining how social rules govern our life, government is essential for action, and individuals are needed to make institutional action happen.
Even in situations that seem innocent and peaceful like walks on the beach, social rules play a huge part in our lives and are inescapable. Social rules can range from government laws to corporate regulations. Steinberg argues that “these rules matter for the future of our planet” (Steinberg 2015, 20). Social rules are put in place and regulated by institutions which means that these institutions rule basically our entire lives.
Government is an essential part of making real institutional action happen. The author focuses a lot on stable governments by explaining how “if we are going to do a better job of managing the earth’s resources sustainably, we need institutions capable of governing over long time horizons” (Steinberg 2015, 130). Not only is it necessary to have governments making social rules, but they need to be stable and have the ability to withstand changing times.
Who Rules the Earth? (Steinberg 2015) does not solely focus on the institution action but also the important connection that the individual has to the institution. The author explains that “new ideas about how we should treat our planet must be encoded in rules that give these ideas force and staying power” (Steinberg 2015, 230). It is important to have social rules but if people don’t agree with the ideas/morals of the rules then they will not last and have a real effect. Collective groups of individuals are ultimately the ones who implement social rules so this connection is essential.
This argument applies to social and scholarly life in many ways. Knowing that the real change on our planet is going to happen at the institutional level encourages me to focus my attention and energy on doing things like donating to organizations or voting or investing/divesting their money in certain areas rather than other individual practices like recycling or biking that don’t make a huge difference in the problem. These practices are by no means bad, but energy and resources might be best spent towards goals that have to do with institutional rules. This text makes me think more about the social rules that are constantly surrounding me whether that be rules of the LC institution or rules of the US institution. It forces me to consider my place as an individual and how I can make institutional scale difference on my own. I am also encouraged to continue using my place at this scholarly institution to make a difference in issues at the level of our college and beyond by working with clubs or organizations around Portland.
Works Cited
Steinberg, Paul. 2015. Who Rules the Earth?. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.