Alperovitz - What Then Must We Do? : Straight Talk about the Next American Revolution

There can be neither peace, nor democracy, nor social justice until we change the system that underpins the American empire and policy-crippling maldistribution of wealth. For decades, Gar Alperovitz has been at the forefront of attempts to understand what could lie beyond our increasingly broken system of corporate capitalism. This book offers by far the most serious, intellectually grounded strategy for system-changing yet to appear. It could be the most important movement-building book of the new centuryand, thereby, one of the most important political books as well.

Daniel Ellsberg , author of Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers and cofounder of the Freedom of the Press Foundation

In this important new book, Gar Alperovitz is telling us theres something happening here in corporate-driven America, be it social enterprise, community land trusts, worker-owned businesses, or employee stock-ownership plans. We all know that the free-market economic system no longer works for the vast majority of citizens, and Alperovitz is showing us that there is a better, equally American way to spread the wealth and put more people to work, while making the nation a safer and healthier place to live. This is not a utopian fantasy or a call for social engineering, but a plain-spoken and easy-to-absorb analysis by one of our leading economists of whats gone wrong and how to make it better.

Seymour M. Hersh, The New Yorker

Gar Alperovitz, the intellectual leader of the economic-democracy movement, has produced the most compelling account yet of how we can move beyond the piecemeal, project-by-project transformation of our political economy to truly systemic change. A must-read for anyone who cares about the future of the United States and the world.

Juliet Schor , author of True Wealth: How and Why Millions of Americans Are Creating a Time-Rich, Ecologically Light, Small-Scale, High-Satisfaction Economy

Gar Alperovitzs new book is so plain-spoken and accessible that it takes a moment to appreciate the magnitude of his accomplishment. After examining new patterns of positive change emerging in America todayincluding many undernoticed changes that involve democratizing the ownership of wealthhe develops a brilliant strategy for the type of transformative change that can lead America from decline to rebirth. In giving a sense of strategic direction and honest possibility to the call for a new economy, Alperovitz has made an enormous contribution exactly where it is most needed.

James Gustave Speth , author of America the Possible: Manifesto for a New Economy

A fresh take on how to reinvigorate democracy and civic life. An analysis that transcends labels and has a real blueprint for action.

Naomi Wolf , author of The End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot

In this slender book, Gar Alperovitz does more than pack a tremendous amount of passion and wisdom about the structural ills of our society. He proposes a common-sense strategy for fixing them as wellgrounded in local institutions that can construct a truly democratic economy. Every progressive should read this book and then start practicing what its author preaches.

Michael Kazin , author of American Dreamers: How the Left Changed a Nation and coeditor of Dissent

As Gar Alperovitz reaches an ever-larger audience, the cooperative and community-based economy he is encouraging will attract increasing numbers of consumers away from big business and its corporate state. What Then Must We Do? offers a powerful argument, written in a conversational style to prod you into the kind of meaningful discussions that lead to more equality and accountability in our political economy.

Ralph Nader , author of The Seventeen Solutions: Bold Ideas for Our American Future

If ever there was a time to consider new directions for our faltering economy, it is now! Gar Alperovitzs new book provides a comprehensive survey of the explosion of new cooperatives, worker-owned firms, city and state investment efforts, and dozens of other new economy development strategiesand fashions them into a coherent strategy. Absolutely essential reading for anyone concerned with building the next Progressive Era.

Van Jones , author of Rebuild the Dream

Rigged by generations of bankers and politicians to enrich Wall Street at the expense of Main Street, the current economic system makes American workers and communities expendable by providing few alternatives to layoffs, bankruptcies, and plant closures during hard times. Gar Alperovitz knows that we must look for new ways to create and sustain good jobs. In What Then Must We Do? , he has outlined a practical, common-sense strategy to improve our economy by making it more democratic. As the United Steelworkers has shown in its innovative partnership with Mondragon, combining employee equity with a progressive collective-bargaining process results in higher accountability, productivity, and efficiency because all workers have an equal stake in the company. Instead of measuring the value of a corporation only in profits, losses, and shareholder dividends, we must take into account how the enterprise serves its community.

Leo Gerard , international president, United Steelworkers Union

Gar Alperovitz is the rare economist who begins with the idea that economic activity should reflect the social aspirations of the community rather than merely the utilitarian interest of global enterprises. He has devoted his professional career to asking the critical question of how best to ensure a more democratic and participatory economy for everyone. What Then Must We Do? provides a much-needed, hopeful vision of how each community can take hold of its economic future and build a sustainable society.

Jeremy Rifkin , author of The Third Industrial Revolution

Alperovitz revives the tradition of political economy and spells out the institutional requirements and historical likelihood of moving the United States in the direction of a democratic community. An insightful and accessible book.

Herman Daly , author of Ecological Economics

If youre ready for hard-headed hope, here you go! Alperovitzs power is that hes no mere theorist of democratic change. He is also a creatorpractically engaged in demonstrating democratic-economic solutions that work. What Then Must We Do? is packed with mind-boggling facts, thoughtful insights, and practical steps. Thank you, Gar Alperovitz, for condensing so much into this provocative gem.

Frances Moore Lapp , author of EcoMind: Changing the Way We Think, to Create the World We Want

Alperovitzs latest is distinguished by clear, accessible, straightforward writing that dares to raise the systemic nature of todays problems in the United States and to show why system change is therefore the necessary solution. This call for the long-overdue next American revolution will move system change forward on the agendas of many.

Richard D. Wolff , author of Democracy at Work: A Cure for Capitalism

The move to broadly participatory, locally rooted, cooperative ownership is essential to Americas future. Gar Alperovitz presents a brilliant, accessible, and practical plan of action to make it happen.

David Korten , board chair of YES! magazine and author of Agenda for a New Economy: From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth

In this cooperative and democratic manifesto, Gar Alperovitz delivers his designs for a more harmonious societya goal long dreamed of on these shores. May his ideas and ideals flourish.

James Galbraith , author of The Predator State

Gar Alperovitz continues to challenge us to recognize and assume responsibility for creating an America beyond capitalism.

Grace Lee Boggs , author of The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century