|
 
Using and abusing Keynes to fight the twin crises of our era
Reviewed by Andrew Glikson In the early 21st century, as polar ice sheets melt, deserts expand, hurricanes intensify and the ocean acidify, faced with governments focused on the next election instead of survival of the next generation, people are losing their faith in democratic governments being able to uphold the ideals of the enlightenment, indeed the physical survival of their citizens. With perspective of John Maynard Keynes’ original socio-economic and political promise, to which successive Labor governments paid lip service, the rise of fundamentalist “economic rationalism”, which measures every human value in terms of dollars, overlooks the science and is inexorably leading to the ultimate Faustian Bargain:
The price of the Earth.
In this book, Tony Kevin, focuses his attention on the twin issues of our times, overwhelming all other issues: recurrent economic crisis and climate change. With his wide ranging background, with qualifications in economics, political science, diplomatic service (Cambodia and Poland) and humanitarian efforts on behalf of refugees, the author analyses the inherent contradictions of bureaucratic and political systems, their failure to ensure social justice and, indeed, survival. The book makes a strong case for sanity, for resurrection of Keynesian principles, combined with redirection of Australia’s economy toward renewable energy, to sustain future generations.
The book is highly recommended for anyone who wishes to examine the intertwined nature of social, economic, political science, mass psychology, inter-generational relations and the issue to overwhelm all other issues - climate change.
The author:Tony Kevin holds degrees in civil engineering, and in economics and political science. He retired from the Australian Foreign Service in 1998, after a 30-year career during which he served in the Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister’s departments, and was Australia’s ambassador to Poland and Cambodia. He is currently an honorary visiting fellow at the Australian National University’s Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies in Canberra. He has written extensively on Australian foreign, national security, and refugee policies in Australia’s national print media, and is the author of the award-winning books A Certain Maritime Incident: the sinking of SIEV X, and Walking the Camino: a modern pilgrimage to Santiago.
'Crunch Time'#
|
This_Category |
|
Category:: Book Review |
Recommend this article...
 Quote this article on your site | Views: 179
Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.4
Tags: Andrew Glikson Tony Kevin 'Crunch Time'
|
Commentary 
