Description: Climate Change and the Nation State is the first book to tie the issue of action against climate change to nationalism. Anatol Lieven argues that commitment to the future of the nation is the only way in which populations can be motivated to accept the sacrifices necessary to combat climate change. National security establishments should prioritize climate change rather than lesser threats from rival powers. Lieven supports the idea of a "Green New Deal" for both gaining public support for climate change action and building the national resilience, but argues that it should be recalibrated to appeal to national unity and solidarity.
Review Quotes: "Thus far, the global response to climate change emphasizes talk rather than effective action. Lieven fills this strategic void by insisting that enlightened civic nationalism alone can stem this threat. Only the nation state can constrain corporate capitalism from further harming the environment. Only the nation state can motivate citizens to make the sacrifices needed to curb the mounting damage.ÂThis is a bold, original, gutsy, and absolutely essential book." -- Andrew J. Bacevich, author of The Age of Illusions
"Passivity in the face of climate change is the fatalism of our age.ÂLieven's book offers a bracing riposte to those who believe that only world government can solve global warming. Lieven makes a brilliant case that the nation state has to be the chief vehicle to confront humanity's surpassing crisis. Lieven is utterly persuasive about this challenge-the importance of our not allowing the perfect to be the enemy of the good. If you read one book on global warming, this should be it." -- Edward Luce, author of The Retreat of Western Liberalism"This is one of those rare books with something really important to say. Lieven, one of the most original, independent-minded of foreign policy thinkers, tells his fellow realists that at this moment the world's great powers are far more threatened by climate change than they are by each other." -- Ivan Krastev, Chairman, Centre for Liberal Strategies, Sofia, and Permanent Fellow, IWM Vienna"Climate activists have yet to devise a successful political strategy for dramatically reducing the pace of warming. In his brilliant new book, Lieven argues that 'civic nationalism, ' combining loyalty to the nation and public sacrifice, is the only strategy with a chance at success. While not everyone may agree with his conclusions, it is impossible to escape the hard logic of his reasoning." -- Michael Klare, author of All Hell Breaking Loose"This book is a clarion call for a renewed civic nationalism focused on the preservation of the environment and the arresting of climate change as vital aspects of a shared national and international good-one that true patriots of any country ought to place at the front and center of their political agenda. Lieven makes a compelling case for contesting the intolerant and anti-scientific far right's would-be monopoly on the language, imagery, and emotions of nationalism" -- Aviel Roshwald, Professor of History, Georgetown University