Who Rules the Earth centers around the common theme of how social rules and practices work to solve issues of environmental degradation. Steinberg attempts to evaluate the methods that social rules can bring about real change in the long-run. His end goal for this book is to encourage readers to initiate methods for following certain social rules to bring about more sustainable ways of living to lessen the Anthropocene. Though this idea of social rules to bring change I will discuss the ways I incorporate his teachings into my everyday student life.
Steinberg brings a fairly optimistic view point to his novel and suggests that individual action is what will truly save our Earth. This notion of individual action was originally dismissed after I read earlier texts in the class. However, Steinberg offers a very convincing argument that through understanding the social rules that dictate our actions we can bring about larger change (Steinberg 2015, 28). He insinuates that although no one person can incite radical change we can all put pressure upon bigger institutions. So while individual actions can be futile, social rules can be bent to encourage more change within the current social construct. This really struck a chord within me, and I feel that I can apply this outlook of shaping social rules to bring about institutional change.
An example used by Steinberg is the example of recycling, which is an action that I participate in. By recycling I hope to reduce my impact and generate social change, but without social rules recycling would be useless. The idea is that we need social rules to unite causes and peoples. However, Steinberg reiterates this point by saying “. . . these isolated individual actions are fine and well, but are simply inadequate given the size of the challenge [saving the planet]” (Steinberg 2015, 219). He’s not saying that we should end recycling, but instead suggesting that we need to not see recycling or buying organic as a way to buy our way out of collective problems (Steinberg 2015, 220). By viewing problems as either right or wrong we create expectations for society. If these views are shifted, then institutional change can occur. It’s all about finding a path that brings about positive change and staying on that path led by social rules. This style of change is extremely sustainable in maintaining, but has the problem of being difficult to implement.
In conclusion, I think that I need to note that my individual lifestyle is having no impact on bringing about environmental change. However, if I can realize that social change leads to institutional change then I cannot buy my way out of a collective problem. Instead, I need to face problems with the attitude of being able to captivate a group audience to follow much larger social rules.
Steinberg, Paul F. 2015. Who Rules the Earth?: How Social Rules Shape Our Planet and Our Lives. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.