For a Free Nature: Critical Theory, Social Ecology, and Post-developmentalism

This work explores the critique made by early theorists of the Frankfurt School and by Murray Bookchin of the human domination of external nature--a process and reality inextricably linked to domination in the social realm, both of self and others. These similar schools of thought are placed into conversation and mutual regard, with the clear conclusion that humanity's domination of nature, like the domination of humans by other humans, must be radically dissipated if humanity and the millions of other species on Earth are to enjoy any sort of decent survival. The text then moves to examination of post-developmentalist critiques of mainstream development theory and practice and attempts to synthesize this with the Critical Theory-social ecology hybrid of the first half. Its conclusion examines some of the prospects for the realization of these theorists' hopes, given in particular the presently ever-worsening environmental crisis.