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Pluriverse: A Post–Development Dictionary
Pluriverse: A Post-Development Dictionary contains over 100 essays on transformative initiatives and alternatives to the currently dominant processes of globalized development, including its structural roots in modernity, capitalism, state domination, and masculinist values. It offers critical essays on mainstream solutions that ‘greenwash’ development, and presents radically different worldviews and practices from around the world that point to an ecologically wise and socially just world.
Ashish Kothari is with Kalpavriksh and Vikalp Sangam in India, and co-editor of Alternative Futures: India Unshackled.
Ariel Salleh is an Australian scholar-activist, author of Ecofeminism as Politics and editor of Eco-Sufficiency and Global Justice.
Arturo Escobar teaches at University of North Carolina, and is author of Encountering Development.
Federico Demaria is with Autonomous University of Barcelona, and co-editor of Degrowth: A Vocubalary for a New Era.
Alberto Acosta is an Ecuadorian economist and activist, and former President of the Constituent Assembly of Ecuador.
Ashish Kothari is with Kalpavriksh and Vikalp Sangam in India, and co-editor of Alternative Futures: India Unshackled.
Ariel Salleh is an Australian scholar-activist, author of Ecofeminism as Politics and editor of Eco-Sufficiency and Global Justice.
Arturo Escobar teaches at University of North Carolina, and is author of Encountering Development.
Federico Demaria is with Autonomous University of Barcelona, and co-editor of Degrowth: A Vocubalary for a New Era.
Alberto Acosta is an Ecuadorian economist and activist, and former President of the Constituent Assembly of Ecuador.
570 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2019
49 people are currently reading
625 people want to read
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January 12, 2021As there are currently no reviews of the book, I am going to give a more detailed account.
Pluriverse – A Post-development Dictionary is an inspiring and carefully edited work that exemplifies the previously abstract concept of “Pluriverse”.
The meaning of “Pluriverse” is established in the introduction, as a world in which many worlds fit (this is actually a definition inspired by the Zapatista movement in Mexico, that I found in other books by Arturo Escobar and it stuck in my head. The book gives a more detailed explanation). It is basically a concept that allows the co-existence of multiple alternative views on life, as opposed to “Universe” which is uni-versal, as its name says.
The book is divided into three parts (besides the foreword and introduction). The first part comprises of a set of critical views on development, one from each continent, in line with the pluriversal logic. Now this one-voice-one-continent thing may be a bit arbitrary, but it is a good start.
The second part debunks various Western-generated solutions or proposed mindsets to the contemporary social and environmental crisis, that are said to be “universally” valid and are pushed to the non-Western world. E.g. the Circular Economy, Earth System Governance, Smart Cities, Neo-Extractivism, Lifeboat Ethics etc.
The third part consists of about a hundred three to four-page entries about alternatives from the Pluriverse.
The concepts listed are quite heterogenous, as they may refer to traditional or modern practices from around the world (e.g. Moroccan Agdals), lines of critical thought (Ecofeminism), social movements (Transition Movement), worldviews (Islamic Ethics) or even academic disciplines (Social Ecology). It is not a complete list, but it is probably the most comprehensive account of what the pluriverse entails that currently exists between the covers of the same book.
The book is a dictionary, so it doesn't read like a narrative or even a regular academic book, but it is an excellent introduction to a lot of concepts.
All entries were prepared by an academic or activist, many well-known in their field.
The entries are followed by a short bibliography, for further reference.
All in all, an excellent initiative outlining an incomplete but in the making global tapestry of alternatives. Finally!
Pluriverse – A Post-development Dictionary is an inspiring and carefully edited work that exemplifies the previously abstract concept of “Pluriverse”.
The meaning of “Pluriverse” is established in the introduction, as a world in which many worlds fit (this is actually a definition inspired by the Zapatista movement in Mexico, that I found in other books by Arturo Escobar and it stuck in my head. The book gives a more detailed explanation). It is basically a concept that allows the co-existence of multiple alternative views on life, as opposed to “Universe” which is uni-versal, as its name says.
The book is divided into three parts (besides the foreword and introduction). The first part comprises of a set of critical views on development, one from each continent, in line with the pluriversal logic. Now this one-voice-one-continent thing may be a bit arbitrary, but it is a good start.
The second part debunks various Western-generated solutions or proposed mindsets to the contemporary social and environmental crisis, that are said to be “universally” valid and are pushed to the non-Western world. E.g. the Circular Economy, Earth System Governance, Smart Cities, Neo-Extractivism, Lifeboat Ethics etc.
The third part consists of about a hundred three to four-page entries about alternatives from the Pluriverse.
The concepts listed are quite heterogenous, as they may refer to traditional or modern practices from around the world (e.g. Moroccan Agdals), lines of critical thought (Ecofeminism), social movements (Transition Movement), worldviews (Islamic Ethics) or even academic disciplines (Social Ecology). It is not a complete list, but it is probably the most comprehensive account of what the pluriverse entails that currently exists between the covers of the same book.
The book is a dictionary, so it doesn't read like a narrative or even a regular academic book, but it is an excellent introduction to a lot of concepts.
All entries were prepared by an academic or activist, many well-known in their field.
The entries are followed by a short bibliography, for further reference.
All in all, an excellent initiative outlining an incomplete but in the making global tapestry of alternatives. Finally!
February 6, 2021
This book provides a lovely starting point for anyone looking at alternatives to our current economic system in addressing environmental/social issues. Thought-provoking to be sure. Neatly packaged essays that make it easy to jump from one to another.
March 24, 2021
Great book to get to know many alternatives to the development paradigm
August 3, 2025
Antalya'dan Bodrum'a Pamukkale Turizm'le geçirdiğim 8 saatlik yolculuğumda okudum. Goodreads'in aradığı review bu değil sanırım. Ama benim goodreads'im sonuçta.
Öyle tek bir evrensel kalkınma tanımı yok. Herkes takılsın diyor. Gerçekten kitaptaki kısa makaleleri yazan herkes de takılmış. Ama çok derine girmeden kabaca yaklaşımlar (olmazsa olmazımız buen vivir'den earth sprituality'e, kürdistandan free software'e bir sürü şey burada) hakkında bilgi edinmek isteyenlere iyi gibi.
Öyle tek bir evrensel kalkınma tanımı yok. Herkes takılsın diyor. Gerçekten kitaptaki kısa makaleleri yazan herkes de takılmış. Ama çok derine girmeden kabaca yaklaşımlar (olmazsa olmazımız buen vivir'den earth sprituality'e, kürdistandan free software'e bir sürü şey burada) hakkında bilgi edinmek isteyenlere iyi gibi.
November 21, 2021
Why is this book over 4 stars on Goodreads must be my biggest question of the year. An awfully written literature in every sense one can possibly think of: lengthy text that can be so easily summarized in one sentence, all buzzwords, nonsense criticism. Honestly, WORST BOOK ever on development
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews