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Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy
Our current economic system—which assumes endless growth and limitless potential wealth—flies in the face of the fact that the earth’s resources are finite. The result is increasing destruction of the natural world and growing, sometimes lethal, tension between rich and poor, global north and south. Trying to fix problems piecemeal is not the solution. We need a comprehensive new vision of an economy that can serve people and all of life’s commonwealth.
Peter G. Brown and Geoffrey Garver use the core Quaker principle of “right relationship”—interacting in a way that is respectful to all and that aids the common good—as the foundation for a new economic model. Right Relationship poses five basic questions: What is an economy for? How does it work? How big is too big? What’s fair? And how can it best be governed? Brown and Garver expose the antiquated, shortsighted, and downright dangerous assumptions that underlie our current answers to these questions, as well as the shortcomings of many current reform efforts. They propose new answers that combine an acute awareness of ecological limits with a fundamental focus on fairness and a concern with the spiritual, as well as material, well-being of the human race. Brown and Garver describe new forms of global governance that will be needed to get and keep the economy in right relationship. Individual citizens can and must play a part in bringing this relationship with life and the world into being.
Ultimately the economy, as indeed life itself, is a series of interconnected relationships. An economy based on the idea of “right relationship” offers not only the promise of a bountiful future but also an opportunity to touch the fullness of human meaning and, some would say, the presence of the Divine.
Peter G. Brown and Geoffrey Garver use the core Quaker principle of “right relationship”—interacting in a way that is respectful to all and that aids the common good—as the foundation for a new economic model. Right Relationship poses five basic questions: What is an economy for? How does it work? How big is too big? What’s fair? And how can it best be governed? Brown and Garver expose the antiquated, shortsighted, and downright dangerous assumptions that underlie our current answers to these questions, as well as the shortcomings of many current reform efforts. They propose new answers that combine an acute awareness of ecological limits with a fundamental focus on fairness and a concern with the spiritual, as well as material, well-being of the human race. Brown and Garver describe new forms of global governance that will be needed to get and keep the economy in right relationship. Individual citizens can and must play a part in bringing this relationship with life and the world into being.
Ultimately the economy, as indeed life itself, is a series of interconnected relationships. An economy based on the idea of “right relationship” offers not only the promise of a bountiful future but also an opportunity to touch the fullness of human meaning and, some would say, the presence of the Divine.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 9, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 26, 2009
Economic look at environmental issues
Many books decry human greed, describe the degradation of the environment and end with a few short pages recommending reform. This isn’t that type of book. Instead, from the first page, Canadian environmentalists Peter G. Brown and Geoffrey Garver agitate for a revolution in the way people use natural resources. They present an admirably solid case that the relationship between the Earth and the global economy must change, and soon. Whether their idealistic prescription (global governance institutions?) is realistic, however, remains to be seen. getAbstract recommends this book to leaders who seek a fresh perspective on sustainability and the economy.
Many books decry human greed, describe the degradation of the environment and end with a few short pages recommending reform. This isn’t that type of book. Instead, from the first page, Canadian environmentalists Peter G. Brown and Geoffrey Garver agitate for a revolution in the way people use natural resources. They present an admirably solid case that the relationship between the Earth and the global economy must change, and soon. Whether their idealistic prescription (global governance institutions?) is realistic, however, remains to be seen. getAbstract recommends this book to leaders who seek a fresh perspective on sustainability and the economy.
June 2, 2025
Attempts to apply Quaker concepts of right relationship to the problem of transitioning to a sustainable global economy. Not sure the spiritual emphasis actually adds anything useful on this occasion. The first half mostly consists of Stating the Bloody Obvious regarding the mess we're currently in/heading for; the second half has a go at making some suggestions for how to fix it, but doesn't strike me as particularly realistic. Yes, no doubt the problem would be much easier to solve with a world reserve bank, global trusts of the commons, a global parliament and a functioning World Court, but I sincerely doubt that we can get there in the time we have to sort this out. On a smaller scale, holding up Stiftung Warentest (the German consumer association) as a model of how to get markets to take environmental issues seriously would impress me a lot more if you gave any hint of being aware of the existence of Which? and able to explain why it isn't doing the same job. Overall, the book seemed irritatingly Pollyanna-ish.
May 28, 2022
A good focus on looking at the economy beyond strictly what dollars measure. What impacts should we consider beyond what we think we see or what is conventionally focused on or measured.
If we throw a pebble into a pond there is the ripple effect. What Population levels are sustainable, how much wealth is necessary, the role of technology ad what ethics are important. How do we get there?
If we throw a pebble into a pond there is the ripple effect. What Population levels are sustainable, how much wealth is necessary, the role of technology ad what ethics are important. How do we get there?
August 3, 2011
Brown’s book, co-authored by individuals with varied backgrounds in economics and public policy, delves into the idea that “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, resilience, and beauty of the commonwealth of life.” The authors propose an equation and use it to ask some basic questions about economics; what is the economy for, how does it work, is it too big, can it be supported by the “commonwealth of all life,” and what is fair?
The book also highlights four potential “global” institutions, intended to implement the book’s collective vision of a more ethical future. The authors conclude by suggesting four steps that can be taken to bring about necessary change, modeled on the campaign for the abolition of slavery in England in 1787.
Reviews suggest that the discussion of these issues is well-informed and insightful. Dr. John Scull in Ecopsychology wrote that by shifting the goal from economic growth and sustainability to a “right relationship,” the book allows for a cooperation between the principles of the Earth Charter and the world economic, political and ecological systems. Scull calls this a “superb” analysis of the environmental situation. Reviewers agree that the book is well-researched and informative, providing a meaningful concept of this “right relationship” that gives readers a useful measure of their personal and collective decisions.
The book also highlights four potential “global” institutions, intended to implement the book’s collective vision of a more ethical future. The authors conclude by suggesting four steps that can be taken to bring about necessary change, modeled on the campaign for the abolition of slavery in England in 1787.
Reviews suggest that the discussion of these issues is well-informed and insightful. Dr. John Scull in Ecopsychology wrote that by shifting the goal from economic growth and sustainability to a “right relationship,” the book allows for a cooperation between the principles of the Earth Charter and the world economic, political and ecological systems. Scull calls this a “superb” analysis of the environmental situation. Reviewers agree that the book is well-researched and informative, providing a meaningful concept of this “right relationship” that gives readers a useful measure of their personal and collective decisions.
March 10, 2013
heavy-handed, repetitive and down-right silly at the end; still, Brown asks many questions that are worth thinking about. Hard to stomach if you're not already converted to living in the anti-economy.
August 1, 2014
A must read; this important book shows the relation between climate change and economy. We need a different system of governance, new institutions, and to strengthen the UN and make it independent of the United States.
December 1, 2020
Did the audio book. The narrator made it a huge chore. Their enunciation was way too stiff. Outside of that the book seems very influential. So influential that it seems out of date. Most of the thinking is fairly mainstream at this point. Great resources. Needs an updated edition or a sequel.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews