A major new book on why the most urgent issue confronting us all needs national solutions.
Anatol Lieven is a professor at Georgetown University in Qatar and a Fellow of the New America Foundation in Washington DC. He was previously a professor in the War Studies Department of King's College, London. He worked for twelve years as a British foreign correspondent, reporting from South Asia, the former Soviet Union and eastern Europe for The Times and other publications. His books include Chechnya- Tombstone of Russian Power (1998); America Right or Wrong- An Anatomy of American Nationalism (second edition 2011); Ethical Realism- A Vision for America's Role in the World (with John Hulsman) (2006) and Pakistan- A Hard Country (2011, published by Penguin).
Provocative, original and thought-provoking ... Lieven argues
convincingly that there is no inevitable link between nationalism
and climate denialism.
*Financial Times*
Striking ... The climate crisis is a test of our character. And
Lieven does not like what it reveals. His book offers a blueprint
for an epochal social and political transformation.
*New Statesman*
Lieven believes we must start again - or, rather, return to older
foundations in the face of this primal threat to our planet's
future. We need, he argues, a new nationalism ... We should heed
Lieven's call to action.
*Literary Review*
Lieven maps out a response to the environmental crisis that draws
on both the radical social democracy of Bernie Sanders' Green New
Deal and the burgeoning "eco-nationalism" of Europe's reactionary
populists ... There's no denying the prescience of Lieven's
analysis ... Lieven offers a sobering account of the climate
crisis, how dramatically it is going to reshape human life, and how
quickly that transformation is likely to take effect.
*The Herald*
Convincing ... Lieven weaves his first-hand knowledge and
experience into a compelling narrative ... He makes a strong case
for urgent action, especially by powerful states.
*Nature*
This is one of those rare books that have something really
important to say. Anatol Lieven, one of the most original and
independent-minded foreign policy thinkers, is telling his fellow
realists that at this moment the world's great powers are far more
threatened by climate change than they are by each other.
*Ivan Krastev, author of The Light That Failed*
Passivity in the face of climate change is the fatalism of our age.
Anatol Lieven's book offers a bracing riposte to those who believe
only world government can solve global warming. Lieven makes a
brilliant case that the nation state has to be the chief vehicle to
confront humanity's surpassing crisis. Lieven is utterly persuasive
about this challenge - above all the importance of our not allowing
the perfect to be the enemy of the good. If you read one book on
global warming, this should be it.
*Edward Luce, author of The Retreat of Western Liberalism*
Thus far, the global response to climate change emphasises talk
rather than effective action. Lieven fills this strategic void by
insisting that enlightened civic nationalism alone can stem this
threat. Only the nation state can constrain corporate capitalism
from further harming the environment. Only the nation state can
motivate citizens to make the sacrifices needed to curb the
mounting damage. This is a bold, original, gutsy, and absolutely
essential book.
*Andrew J. Bacevich, author of The Age of Illusions*
This book is a clarion call for a renewed civic nationalism focused
on the preservation of the environment and the arresting of climate
change as vital aspects of a shared national and international
good-one that true patriots of any country ought to place at the
front and center of their political agenda. Lieven makes a
compelling case for contesting the intolerant and anti-scientific
far right's would-be monopoly on the language, imagery, and
emotions of nationalism.
*Aviel Roshwald, Professor of History, Georgetown University*
Climate activists have yet to devise a successful political
strategy for dramatically reducing the pace of warming. In his
brilliant new book, Lieven argues that 'civic nationalism,'
combining loyalty to the nation and public sacrifice, is the only
strategy with a chance at success. While not everyone may agree
with his conclusions, it is impossible to escape the hard logic of
his reasoning.
*Michael Klare, author of All Hell Breaking Loose*
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