Monthly Archives: September 2016

Systemic Crisis and Systemic Change in the United States in the 21st Century

Systemic Crisis and Systemic Change in the United States in the 21st CenturyThis new working paper by Gar Alperovitz, Gus Speth, Ted Howard, and Joe Guinan from The Next System Project—prepared as an invited contribution to the “After Fossil Fuels: The New Economy” conference in Oberlin, Ohio from October 6-8, 2016—explores the intersections of systemic economic and ecological crisis, and propose that only a break with the mechanisms of corporate capitalism is capable of guaranteeing a sustainable future.

The challenge of mounting an adequate response to climate change has to be understood within the context of the larger systemic crisis facing the United States. The perpetuation of generalized austerity and the continued reliance on traditional— and manifestly insufficient—policy solutions which do not address the underlying drivers of inequality, poverty, and ecological overshoot is especially wrongheaded given the historically unprecedented productive capacity our nation enjoys, and the growing consensus on the fundamentals of post-scarcity monetary theory. As the ecological rift widens, we must recognize the incompatibility of core features of the current corporate capitalist system with a sustainable, just, and equitable future…

Read the full paper here.

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Presentations from the 2016 World Beyond War Conference [Video]

Gar Alperovitz spoke on the following panels at a conference hosted by World Without War, an organization that strives to replace a culture of war with one of peace in which nonviolent means of conflict resolution take the place of bloodshed. The organization hosted their #NoWar2016 conference at the American University School of International Service in Washington, D.C. from September 23rd to 26th. The conference was comprised of a series of panels and workshops, plus an awards ceremony and a protest action. Video courtesy of TheRealNews.com:

Capitalism and transition to Peace Economy


Gar Alperovitz speaks after an introduction by David Hartsough


Jodie Evans speaks in response to Gar Alperovitz

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An animated view of The Pluralist Commonwealth

Here’s an animated view of what a next system grounded in democratized ownership of the economy and real sustainability might look like and illustrating how we are already creating this society using innovative community-based institutions like cooperatives, public banks, and community land trusts – just to name a few.

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Six Practical Steps Building The Next System From the Ground Up

Originally published in Yes! Magazine on September 7, 2016.

From the “buy local” movement to public banking, communities are quietly laying the groundwork for a more democratic, cooperative, and people-centered economy.

“Many years ago, while researching the history of the U.S. decision to use atomic weapons on the people of Japan, I came to understand something: There was something deep at work in the American political and economic system driving it toward relentless expansion and a dangerous, informal imperialism. I began thinking about how to fundamentally change America out of concern with what America was doing—and is still doing—to the rest of the world.

Many experiences since—especially working in the U.S. House, Senate, and at upper levels of the State Department trying to resist the war in Vietnam; and thereafter with activists in the antiwar and civil rights movements—taught me something important: It wasn’t enough to stand in opposition to the injustices America inflicted on the world and its own people. It was equally important for these movements to operate with an idea of what they want instead…”

Click here to read the full article in Yes! Magazine. 

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Background Briefing with Ian Masters: Gar Alperovitz on Building a 21st Century Populism

Background briefing

On September 5th, 2016, Gar Alperovitz, co-founder of the Democracy Collaborative, joined Ian Masters on his radio program, Background Briefing, to discuss building upon the momentum generated by Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign. Gar speaks about the potential to transform the energy of the Bernie campaign into a 21st century populist movement–starting at the grass roots to build up community initiatives such as worker cooperatives and regional banks.

Hear the full radio show here.

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