Before reading Paul Steinberg’s Who Rules the Earth? How Social Rules Shape Our Planet and Our Lives I was a strong advocate for individual level action against climate change. I had a complete lack of faith in the system (anything above my local community/government), which stemmed from the fact that I had an apparent lack of understanding of the mechanisms behind institutional change. Steinberg illustrates the importance of institutional level action as well as highlights its effectiveness through various examples including property rights (a political creation) (Steinberg 2015, pg.67), markets (Steinberg 2015, pg. 94) and the power of the national government (Steinberg 2015, pg. 134). However, institutional action alone is not enough to create change. The author states “this in no way suggests that you should stop doing the little things like recycling, growing your own food” (Steinberg 2015, pg. 278). Individual and institutional change are intertwined with one another and this idea is summed up by Steinberg in his call to think vertically (Steinberg 2015, pg. 163). Thinking vertically entails analyzing our social rules and changing them so they address every level of society and stand the test of time. According to Steinberg, “new ideas about how we should treat our planet must be encoded in rules that give these ideas force and staying power. It requires digging new “ruts” that protect the public interest” (Steinberg 2015, pg. 230). The job of changing rules may not be so easy though. In many cases it may be necessary to change super rules (the rules that dictate how other rules are made) in order to open to door to change. “In your toolkit for changing the world, super rules are the big hammer. While profound in their effects, super rules are not necessarily the hardest rules to change (Steinberg 2015, pg. 261). Rules are what guide us and define our actions and self in society and in order to adapt for climate change, rules will need to be rewritten and action will need to be taken at all levels of society, not just at the individual or institutional levels.
Steinberg presents a whole slew of ideas at a very rapid rate but conveniently sums up his argument and proposed action plan in the final chapter of the book through eight principles of action. These eight principles including think vertically, bridge research and action, and keep recycling illuminate a multifaceted approach to working through climate change issues. Moving forward, these eight principles will guide me to better understand environmental policy, navigate the intricacies of implementation and focus on all levels of society when analyzing an issue. After reading Who Rules the Earth? I believe I am much better equipped to grapple with climate change issues and maintain a vertical outlook. I understand the value and effectiveness of individual level action and will continue to recycle, drive less and make a difference in my personal life, however I now realize that these small scale strategies will never be enough to truly illicit effective change. The real solution is a combination of both individual and institutional action that rewrites social rules at all levels of society.
As a transfer student new to Lewis and Clark this semester I have yet to pick a concentration and declare my ENVS major, but Who Rules the Earth? has really attracted me towards a Law and Policy type concentration and I am looking forward to ENVS 220 and 460 this coming fall!
Bibliography
Steinberg, Paul F. Who Rules the Earth?: How Social Rules Shape Our Planet and Our Lives. New York, NY: Oxford Univ. Press, 2015.