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IBON Primer on System Change

Monopoly Capitalism and the Ecological Crisis

There is now growing awareness that the global ecological crisis is fast getting worse, and that human economic activity is mainly responsible for it. This awareness is leading to ever-increasing recognition of the need—and urgency—for deep-going and systemic changes in society.

This IBON primer reviews the deep-going social roots of the ecological crisis. It revisits how the nexus between humankind and nature turned problematic globally under the prevailing capitalist system of production, especially as it evolved into monopoly capitalism or modern-day imperialism. It argues that only with a radical shift in the way our economic and social systems are organized in short, through system change can this relationship be reset onto a sustainable path.

The primer describes the sustainable and equitable society of the future, where people exercise democratic control over natural and productive resources and are empowered to consciously plan the economy to serve their needs and development aspirations. It outlines key requirements to achieve this, and discusses the crucial role social movements play in effecting system change.