Paul F. Steinberg’s Who Rules the Earth? (2015) presents environmental theories that challenge the way society approaches and teaches environmentalism. Steinberg’s central argument is that institutional action is far more likely to make positive world changes than an individually focused mindset. In other words, we need to think big. Steinberg provides numerous examples of successful institutional movements, answering his posed title question. Institutional movements are the way to create the changes that people who care for the future of the planet desire most. Institutions rule the Earth.
- Institutional Action Makes Waves
In the grand scheme of things, modifying one’s personal lifestyle is not going to create the change that everyone believes it will. Choosing to personally go vegan can make you feel good, but it’s not going to change the world from an environmental standpoint. Steinberg writes, that “changes in personal lifestyle strike many of us as strangely out of proportion with enormous problems like climate change, urban air pollution, and the disappearance of tropical forests” (Steinberg 2015, 5). This book’s eleven chapters explain not only just how much more effective acting at a larger scale can be, but also provides suggestions of how one can do their part in a world where so much responsibility seems to fall onto the individual.
- Rebuilding Social Rules from the Ground Up
A major topic within this book is changing social mindsets toward environmentalism using rules. Such a task is doable, but it cannot be done be passionate individuals alone. Steinberg argues that social rules must be completely reconstructed in order to create significant change. However, Steinberg argues that rules for environmental improvement must appeal to a wide audience and be inclusive of varying opinions and perspectives. If rules are too strict and unyielding, they will eventually lead to disagreement and ultimately, failure. As an example, Steinberg discusses the failure of the ultra-permanent rules enacted by the US Forest Service that were designed to repel the possibility of change. Failure to adapt and modify the rules quickly turned into a downward spiral as “Forest Service practices came under withering public scrutiny, as the concerns of research ecologists combined with an increasingly assertive environmental movement” (Steinberg, 237). Steinberg is an advocate of inclusiveness and adaptability regarding climate change, and understands the variety of needs and interests that are necessary to govern social rules.
- Emerging a Changed Woman
This book challenges the mindset of many environmentally aware individuals, myself included. Steinberg refers to a phrase, “think globally and act locally” which played a major role in my early environmental education. Steinberg instead suggests that we begin to “think vertically” (Steinberg 2015, 163). To me, this meant that environmental issues should be approached with the intent of climbing a virtual ladder. At the top of the ladder lies social and power structures as well as government regulation, some of the major institutions responsible for creating significant environmental change. Such a concept has made me replay all of my memories of my earliest environmental education. It has made me aware that all the mentors and teachers in my life had encouraged me to accept the responsibility of saving the world as an individual or don’t accept any responsibility at all. Upon reading more contemporary environmental works such as this, I am now more inspired than ever to place myself into a position of power in the environmental advocacy world and become one of the intellectuals that Steinberg believes are responsible for creating major world social changes. Although I will begin to focus on contributing my efforts as an individual into institutional movements, I will never forget to recycle.
Citations
Steinberg, Paul F. 2015. Who Rules the Earth?: How Social Rules Shape Our Planet and Our Lives. New York: Oxford University Press.