A Blue New Deal: Why We Need a New Politics for the Ocean

by Chris Armstrong

An urgent account of the state of our oceans today—and what we must do to protect them
 
“Provides a persuasive guide to recovery, and is an inspiring and invigorating read.”—Phoebe Weston, The Guardian
 
The ocean sustains life on our planet, from absorbing carbon to regulating temperatures, and, as we exhaust the resources to be found on land, it is becoming central to the global market. But today we are facing two urgent challenges at massive environmental destruction, and spiraling inequality in the ocean economy.
 
Chris Armstrong reveals how existing governing institutions are failing to respond to the most pressing problems of our time, arguing that we must do better. Armstrong examines these crises—from the fate of people whose lands will be submerged by sea level rise to the exploitation of people working in fishing to the rights of marine animals—and makes the case for a powerful World Ocean Authority capable of tackling them. A Blue New Deal presents a radical manifesto for putting equality, democracy, and sustainability at the heart of ocean politics.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Environment, Science, Climate Change

272 pages, Hardcover

First published February 22, 2022

Reviews

[Dayton Martindale · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative, alarming, and inspiring survey of the state of ocean politics and possible ways forward, motivated by the idea of two related crises: unsustainability and inequality. I especially appreciated: the explanation of how and why oceans in particular are so prone to environmental and worker exploitation, with some horrifying examples of both in the fishing industry; the attention to nonhuman creatures’ interests throughout, with the important acknowledgment that they’re there ones who actually live in the ocean and that animals deserve political rights and representation; and the history of legal ideas about ocean ownership and use. Armstrong is not a poet but writes clearly, something sometimes lacking in radical political theorists. I hope to write more about the ocean in the future.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought reading this book would be like taking my medicine, but it's a gripping, fascinating, and inspiring read. I had never thought about all the various facets of ocean justice, from fishing rights in Exclusive Economic Zones to the concept of statehood for underwater island nations, from bonded labor under flags of convenience to climate change reparations. So much to take in, so much to feel angry about, but ultimately, I'd rather know what's wrong than be ignorant. I honestly think y'all should read this regardless of your baseline level of interest in the ocean.

[Luísa Andrade · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Blue New Deal” é um manifesto lúcido e inspirador sobre a urgência de uma nova política para o oceano. Armstrong costura com rigor acadêmico e linguagem acessível uma visão de governança marinha que não se limita à conservação, mas busca justiça social, redistribuição de benefícios e democratização das decisões sobre os mares. É um livro que combina análise política sólida, consciência ecológica e propostas concretas, fugindo tanto do catastrofismo estéril quanto da utopia ingênua. Leitura obrigatória para quem acredita que a política precisa atravessar a linha da costa.

[Farzan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an utterly utterly impressive book, detailing the current issues facing our oceans and possible solutions to the blight we find ourselves in. Armstrong deserves huge credit for such a well-written, multi-layered work. Highly recommended.

[Bea Mae Keim · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were points of the book that I was super on board but then the author would keep repeating the same thing over and over again. So in reality this is a 3.5 cause the ideas are great just needed more editing in my opinion.

[Diogenes Grief · Rating 5 out of 5]

Armstrong presents a sobering treatise to a willfully ignorant world drunk on greed. Thank you, A-23a, for letting us know that the slow-motion apocalypse is well underway (https://www.npr.org/2023/12/01/121514...).

[Lisa Grayston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weak. Good intentions but far too weak.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought provoking deep dive into many aspects of the ocean, the lacking regulations, and impacts it can have on humanity. With a hopeful institutional proposal to regulate and license access to the ocean.

This book was broad, covering things from biodiversity, global south inequality, modern human slavery on the ocean, flag jurisdiction of boats, exclusive economic zones, and deep sea mining. Information was shared relatively quickly to always feel like you're making progress in the book which is welcome, but I always left each chapter knowing more than I did at the start. In particular the impact of EEZs, high sea fishing, and deep sea mining were very illuminating for me.

The last few chapters bring all of it together to suggest an institution to create a more equal, sustainable and democratic method of governing than we have now. I see all the benefits that were proposed however I am not convinced it should be a democratic institution. Many of us currently sit in democratic states without any meaningful progress of tackling the climate crisis, and I think this is in big part because we are democratic. I'm not saying we shouldn't be democratic, but if an institution is being setup with one of it's core goals to regulate the ocean in a sustainable way, I think democracy will prioritise profit unfortunately at this stage in humanity.