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Beyond Money

A Postcapitalist Strategy

Anitra Nelson author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Pluto Press

Published:20th Jan '22

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Beyond Money cover

This thought-provoking book explores a world without currency, advocating for its abolition to combat environmental and social issues. Beyond Money presents a radical vision for a postcapitalist future.

In a world increasingly defined by environmental and social crises, the need to envision life without money becomes paramount. Beyond Money serves as a thought-provoking exploration of this concept, challenging the conventional understanding of currency as a necessary component of society. Through a lively narrative, the author, Anitra Nelson, argues that money is not just a medium of exchange, but a significant driver of political power, environmental degradation, and social inequality. Rather than attempting to repurpose money, Nelson advocates for its abolition to pave the way for a postcapitalist future.

Drawing on a diverse range of political and economic theories, Beyond Money incorporates insights from feminism, ecoanarchism, degrowth, permaculture, autonomism, Marxism, and ecosocialism. Nelson highlights the importance of historical debates surrounding money while also looking to modern movements that emphasize Indigenous rights and the defense of the commons. This multifaceted approach reveals an international network of activists who are united in their vision for a society free from the constraints of monetary systems.

Ultimately, Beyond Money posits that by organizing around alternative, post-money futures, activists can foster a world that embodies their radical values and aspirations. It invites readers to imagine the possibilities that lie beyond the confines of traditional economic structures, encouraging a collective rethinking of how society can function without the influence of money.

'A fascinating portal into arguments about why we need to get beyond money'

-- Harry Cleaver, author of '33 Lessons on Capital: Reading Marx Politically'

'Outstanding ... a highly original and incisive analysis of the crippling role that money plays in today’s global capitalist world'

-- Mike Berry, author of 'Justice and Democracy'

'A book for our time. Anitra Nelson takes us from theory to praxis in clear steps. Nelson’s turn towards a materialist ecofeminist analysis is pure joy'

-- Ariel Salleh, editor of ‘Eco-Sufficiency & Global Justice: Women Write Political Ecology’

‘Takes monetised economies head-on, demonstrating how they exacerbate ecological devastation and socio-economic inequality, and provides examples and pathways towards non-monetary economies based on real values. Does a great service to movements seeking social and ecological justice for all humans and other life forms’

-- Ashish Kothari, founder of Kalpavriksh and co-editor of 'Pluriverse'

'Challenges and inspires - a spur to action'

-- Helena Norberg-Hodge, author of 'Ancient Futures' and winner of the Alternative Nobel prize

'It is easier to imagine the end of capitalism than the end of money. Anitra Nelson's book challenges us to think what viable postcapitalisms without money could look like'

-- Professor Giorgos Kallis, University of Barcelona, Spain

'If you had to choose one book to read on making the next political economy it should be this one. It will have you bristling with political energy'

-- Professor Adam David Morton, Department of Political Economy, University of Sydney, Australia

'An accessible and important book. If you want an alternative to economic and environmental disasters, you need to engage with her arguments'

-- Jeff Sparrow, writer, editor and broadcaster

'A passionate critique of money as the root cause of our many problems, presenting a clear vision of how life without money could look like. Inspiring'

-- Matthias Schmelzer is a postdoctoral researcher at the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena. He is the author of The Hegemony of Growth (Cambridge University Press, 2016) and The Future is Degrowth (Verso, 2022)

'With a compelling narrative, Nelson lays out the unavoidable question of today's anti-capitalist, ecological politics - the question of money. Grounded in long-term political experience, her answer is at once elaborate and unequivocal: a wonderful tool for radical imagination and praxis'

-- Stefania Barca, author of 'Forces of Reproduction' and 'Workers of the Earth'

'An exciting, original book that, in exploring the ritual structure of assets, capital, money and profit, helps open a way for more powerful, creative resistance'

-- Larry Lohmann, founding member of the Durban Group for Climate Justice

'Can capitalism be overcome without challenging money? In this thought-provoking book, Anitra Nelson argues that moving beyond money is necessary for addressing inequalities and environmental unsustainability and shows what a non-monetary postcapitalist world might look like.'

-- Ekaterina Chertkovskaya, Researcher in Degrowth and Critical Organisation Studies, Lund University

'Alternatives to capitalism, price-making markets and monetary values are essential for social-ecological transformation. Going well beyond typical economic discourse she opens the door of human potentiality to a different way of life'

-- Clive L. Spash, Professor of Public Policy and Governance at WU, Vienna University of Economics and Busi

ISBN: 9780745340111

Dimensions: 215mm x 135mm x 17mm

Weight: 235g

224 pages