“Remaking Society – A New Ecological Politics” by Murray Bookchin, published in 1992 by AK Press, is a major essay in the field of political and ecological thought. This book proposes a radical and liberating vision of society, combining the principles of social ecology and direct democracy to create a model of interdependent, sustainable and egalitarian communities.

Bookchin begins by severely criticizing the current capitalist model, which he considers to be a system intrinsically destructive of the environment and democracy. He advocates a social and ecological revolution that transcends oppressive and exploitative power structures. In his view, the contemporary ecological crisis is the direct result of a social logic of domination and exploitation that ultimately generates capitalism.

“Social ecology is based on the conviction that almost all current ecological problems are rooted in underlying social problems.”

One of the author’s main contributions lies in his proposal of a concrete alternative: social ecology accompanied by its political organ, which he himself would refer to as communalism in the last years of his life. It is a political proposal that aims to move away from capitalism and reorganize society by emphasizing decentralization, self-management, cooperation, interdependence and the principle of complementarity. He emphasizes the importance of direct democracy and the principle of subsidiarity, where citizens make political decisions collectively and in a participatory manner where they live, without the intermediary of elected representatives.

The author also explores the notion of the ecology of freedom, which encompasses both individual freedom and collective responsibility towards the community and the environment. For him, true freedom can only be achieved in the context of an egalitarian and sustainable society, where everyone has access to the resources necessary to fully develop – these resources being communalized.

The book is a kind of synthesis of his thinking and is distinguished by its philosophical depth and interdisciplinary approach, combining elements of ecology, political philosophy and social history. Bookchin draws on various intellectual traditions, including anarchism and Marxism, to construct his vision of an ecological and free society.

Although some of his ideas may seem utopian, “A Society to Rebuild” offers an insightful critique of current social systems and proposes stimulating alternatives. The book remains relevant today, as environmental challenges become increasingly pressing and the search for alternative social models intensifies. All the more so as the title of the book is timely in the current context and the ridiculous political contortions of a “representative” regime demonstrating its insanity more than ever.

In short, this book by Bookchin is a significant contribution to contemporary ecological and political thought. It invites readers to fundamentally rethink our relationship with nature and with each other, offering an ambitious vision of a more sustainable and freer future.