Deleting Dystopia confirms that the existential threats posed by the misuse of advanced digital technologies are real. But, in place of apathy and fatalism, Slaughter explores ways of understanding the threat, conceptualising solutions and identifying strategies that lead away from digital authoritarian futures towards those funded on humanly viable values and practices.

The way we manage organizations seems increasingly out of date. Survey after survey shows that a majority of employees feel disengaged from their companies. The epidemic of organizational disillusionment goes way beyond Corporate America-teachers, doctors, and nurses are leaving their professions in record numbers because the way we run schools and hospitals kills their vocation. Government agencies and nonprofits have a noble purpose, but working for these entities often feels soulless and lifeless just the same.

All these organizations suffer from power games played at the top and powerlessness at lower levels, from infighting and bureaucracy, from endless meetings and a seemingly never-ending succession of change and cost-cutting programs.

“On the Creation of a Just World Order” is part of the “Urgent Issues in American Society Series”.

The book, published by Free Press on January 1, 1975, focuses on the pursuit of establishing a fair and equitable global system.

These books offer diverse perspectives and analyses on the concept of world order, covering areas like international law, human rights, and the dynamics of global power structures. They also provide valuable insights into the historical context and potential pathways for creating a more just and peaceful global society.

A fascinating manifesto, proposing that the world should be split into smaller regions to distribute power more evenly.

Written by one of the most original political thinkers of the 20th century, in The Breakdown of Nations, Leopold Kohr shows that throughout history people living in small states are happier, more peaceful, more creative and more prosperous. He argues that virtually all our political and social problems would be greatly diminished if the world’s major countries were to dissolve back into the small states from which they sprang. Rather than making even larger political unions, in the mistaken belief that this will bring peace and security, we should minimise the aggregation of power by returning to a patchwork of small, relatively powerless states where leaders are accessible to and responsive to the people.

Originally published in 1957, this new edition features forewords by Neal Ascherson and Richard Body. The material has been noted for its striking relevance to the current political situation, with globalisation, war, nuclear weapons and the rise of electronic gadgets leading to concern over whether we should re-examine the implications of the size of political groupings, whether they be states, nations or federations.

In these turbulent times, recognise the beauty and potential in small political nations with this inspiring read.

Source: Amazon Books

October 14, 2007 by David C. Korten

David Korten argues that corporate consolidation of power is merely a contemporary manifestation of what he calls Empire: the organization of society by hierarchies of domination. Increasingly destructive on every level, the way of Empire is leading to environmental and social collapse. We now face a mounting perfect storm of climate change, peak oil, and the financial instability inherent in an unbalanced global trading system. In The Great Turning, Korten makes the case that we must change course and choose a new future as a conscious collective act.

We cannot avoid the unraveling. We can, however, turn a potentially terminal crisis into an epic opportunity to bring forth a new era of Earth Community grounded in the life-affirming values of ecological integrity, economic justice, community, and democracy. The Great Turning is an essential resource for those who understand this need and are prepared to engage what Thomas Berry calls the Great Work.

Source: Amazon