Transitions in Global History : Social and Political Transformation in the Climate Crisis

What is a Global Transition? Defining this term- transition- is a major intellectual, scientific and political problem, and one that we must engage with if we are to respond to future climate crises and the transformation they will bring. In this book, Livesey delves into past transitions, the Neolithic, Industrial and Democratic Revolutions, to bring clarity to the idea of transition, and to frame the concept as a historical phenomenon, and a historical problem.

Using methods from intellectual history and responding to work by critical theorists such as Spivak, Ghosh, Chakrabarty and Latour, Transitions in Global History views the current climate and biodiversity crises through the lens of past transitions. Exploring the relationship between exogenous shock, social innovation, creativity and structural change, it seeks to identify a platform from which we can achieve a deeper understanding of the politics of climate change. Addressing the disorder of the current international system it explains why the political centre finds it so difficult to respond, and demonstrates why a Just Transition may be our only viable option for the future.