The Politics of Deep Time

This Element analyses how planetary temporalities can be politically institutionalized.

This Element provides a systematization of 'the politics of deep time' as a novel lens of planetary politics by demonstrating why deep-time interactions render the politics of deep time essential and explaining the politics of deep time using representative cases. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.Human societies increasingly interact with processes on a geological or even cosmic timescale. Despite this recognition, we still lack a basic understanding of these interconnections and how they translate into politics. This Element provides an exploration and systematization of 'the politics of deep time' as a novel lens of planetary politics in three steps. First, it demonstrates why deep-time interactions render the politics of deep time essential; second, it asks how deep time should be politicized and third, it explicates the politics of deep time by examining representative cases. The Element also formulates a conceptual framework to open up possibilities for alliances that seek to better understand and realize the politics of deep time, pioneering a debate on how planetary temporalities can be politically institutionalized. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.