Gar Alperovitz, Lionel R. Bauman Professor of Political Economy at the University of Maryland, is cofounder of The Democracy Collaborative. He is a former fellow of the Institute of Politics at Harvard and of King's College at Cambridge University, where he received his PhD in political economy. He has served as a legislative director in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and as a special assistant in the Department of State. Earlier he was president of the Center for Community Economic Development, Codirector of The Cambridge Institute, and president of the Center for the Study of Public Policy. Dr. Alperovitz's numerous articles have appeared in publications ranging from The New York Times and The Washington Post to The Journal of Economic Issues, Foreign Policy, Diplomatic History, and other academic and popular journals. His previous books are America Beyond Capitalism (a new edition of which appeared in 2011), The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb, published in 1995, the 2002 book, Making a Place for Community: Local Democracy in a Global Era (with Thad Williamson and David Imbroscio), and the 2008 book Unjust Deserts (with Lew Daly).
ForeWord Reviews- "The cultural, social, and political movement
begun by the American revolution is as alive as ever. Gar
Alperovitz, Lionel R. Bauman Professor of Political economy at the
University of Maryland, has penned a thoughtful guide for
participating in that ongoing revolution. What Then Must We
Do? should be required reading for every concerned citizen in
the United States. Alperovitz writes, 'it is possible, easiest and
best to discuss the really important points about our crumbling
American system, and what to do about it, in language that is
understandable and accessible.' Clearly and conversationally, the
author well documents his observation that the American system is
crumbling. He notes that the United States, while one of the
wealthiest of countries, ranks close to the lowest among
advanced countries in categories such as equality, infant
mortality, poverty, and life expectancy. The trends in many areas,
he argues, indicate that politics, as practiced in this country, no
longer responds to the major issues affecting Americans. 'What I am
asking you to ponder with me is the simple fact that the system
(the way that underlying institutional power is currently arranged)
seems now to be producing outcomes, year in and year out, that do
not much respond to the old theory of politics.' The author goes
beyond the finger pointing utilized by many polemicists, and he
does not abandon a basic commitment to American democratic ideals.
Rejecting traditional corporate capitalism as having failed the
basic needs of the majority, Alperovitz argues enthusiastically for
citizens to take ownership of the means of producing wealth. He
points to many examples of where people working together have
improved their local economy and quality of life. He explains B
corporations, allowed under the laws of several states, charged
with a mission to provide benefits to the community as well as
return a profit to the shareholders. He reminds the reader that
there are community-based banking institutions, credit unions,
which benefit all their members. Combining the best attributes of a
realist with those of a dreamer, Alperovitz honestly describes the
problems facing the American community while offering an
attainable progressive alternative. He concludes with a Margaret
Meade quote reminding us we should 'never doubt that a small group
of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it
is the only thing that ever has.'"
Library Journal- "[Gar] Alperovitz (political economy, Univ. of
Maryland; America Beyond Capitalism) alternately elicits hope
and despair in his discussion of the state of America’s current
economic system—despair because he believes it no longer works and
hope in the spreading economic democratization and successful
cooperatives and progressive local government ventures. Alperovitz
states that corporate politics and policies that deliberately
transfer wealth from the poor and middle class to the wealthy, not
to mention the sustained attack on labor unions, demonstrate that
the American social system is fundamentally broken. He asserts that
early 20th-century progressivism, the New Deal, and the Great
Society helped save America in times of crisis, and that a new
paradigm in which social, environmental, and democratic policies
reside at the forefront of our political and economic development
is needed. VERDICT Alperovitz’s sophisticated tone both
informs and engages. Recommended for all readers interested in an
economic and political perspective of what’s gone wrong with
America."
Publishers Weekly- Alperovitz (America Beyond Capitalism), a
University of Maryland political economist and cofounder of the
Democracy Collaborative, transcends simple political disenchantment
to examine the intertwining of political and economic power and the
need to develop new institutions that help the 99% obtain more of
both. The atypical conditions that made possible the postwar boom
fostered the development of institutions that now are losing
strength. With a nod to Tolstoy, Alperovitz encourages the reader
to ponder how to redress the staggeringly unequal distribution of
wealth. His survey of the American landscape highlights co-ops,
employee stock ownership plans, publicly owned utilities and
hospitals, and other already-successful alternatives to the
for-profit corporate model. By so doing, he persuasively argues,
new constituencies tied to these alternative models will emerge.
His emphasis throughout is on the local level, as if to emphasize
the movement toward a new American community that he espouses. The
reader is certain to find his views challenging, even if the schism
between conventional corporatism and "New Economy" practices that
Alperovitz envisions seems to evoke the gulf between Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde.
Booklist- "With the gulf between the wealthy haves and unwealthy
have-nots growing year by year in America, more and more people are
becoming disenchanted with so-called free-market capitalism.
Political economist [Gar] Alperovitz takes the pulse of this
collective fiscal dissatisfaction here and offers some tantalizing
but well- grounded ideas about closing the income gap without
sliding into socialism. The author begins by deconstructing
politics as usual and deflating the notion that progressive
policies can provide much real guidance. Because banks are more
stable these days, major crises like the recent recession are also
unlikely to provoke much transformation. According to Alperovitz,
something different beyond token protests and special-interest
groups is necessary for true systemic change, and this difference
comes in the form of more worker-owned and -operated companies,
neighborhood corporations, and locally run public enterprises.
Alperovitz’s deliberately informal, conversational style makes
normally rarefied economic concepts accessible to a wide audience,
enhancing his inspiring message that, with the right strategies, a
wholesale economic revolution is not only possible but achievable
by well-organized, average citizens."
Kirkus Reviews- "Any cure for America’s economic plight lies deeper
than politics as usual, argues an author who believes that a
fundamental, radical, systemic transformation offers the
possibility of an economic
corrective. Alperovitz (Political Economy/Univ. of
Maryland; America Beyond Capitalism, 2004) argues that a
faulty sense of history underlies what little faith remains in
economic progress through conventional politics. … the author
believes he 'offers a reasonably hopeful sense of the future, and a
strategy aimed at possibly getting there.' Such hope lies in 'the
democratization of wealth,' through employee-owned companies,
regional co-ops, the systemic transformation of the banking and
health care industries into public utilities and an emphasis on
'what has often been called the triple bottom line (emphasizing
people and planet in addition to profit).' And if such radical
restructuring causes some to scream about socialism, he counters
that 'socialism—real socialism, not the fuzzy kind conservatives
try to pin on Barack Obama—is as common as grass…in the United
States.' Alperovitz’s conversational style avoids academic
jargon while making complex issues easy (some might say too easy)
to digest, but he’s not likely to convince those of the
conservative persuasion that a more hopeful future involves more
collective action and government consolidation."
"With his latest book, Gar Alperovitz's only adds to his status as
one of the most creative and important thinkers of our time.
Grappling with his arguments (even when we disagree) has been
one of the chief
intellectual plesures of my reading life. For you, the
immediate answer to 'What Then Must We Do?' is clear: Read
this book."--Bertell Ollman, Dance of the Dialectic: Steps in
Marx's Method
"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 End of America
"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
"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 well—grounded 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
editor of Dissent
"If you're ready for hard-headed hope, here you go! Alperovitz's
power is that he’s no “mere” theorist of democratic change. He is
also a creator—practically 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 Lappé, author of EcoMind: Changing
the Way We Think, to Create the World We Want
"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
"In this cooperative and democratic manifesto, Gar Alperovitz
delivers his designs for a more harmonious society—a goal long
dreamed of on these shores. May his ideas and ideals
flourish."--James Galbraith, author of The Predator State
“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
"The move to broadly participatory, locally rooted, cooperative
ownership is essential to America’s 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
"If ever there was a time to consider new directions for our
faltering economy, it is now! Gar Alperovitz’ 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 strategies—and 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
"Alperovitz’s latest is distinguished by clear, accessible,
straightforward writing that dares to raise the systemic nature of
today’s 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
"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 century--and, 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
“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
"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
"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
"In this important new book, Gar Alperovitz is telling us there's
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 an utopian fantasy or a call for social engineering,
but a plain-spoken and easy-to-absorb analysis by one of our
leading economists of what's gone wrong and how to make it
better."--Seymour M. Hersh, The New Yorker
"Gar Alperovitz's 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 today—including many undernoticed changes that
involve democratizing the ownership of wealth—he 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
Alperovitz (America Beyond Capitalism), a University of Maryland political economist and cofounder of the Democracy Collaborative, transcends simple political disenchantment to examine the intertwining of political and economic power and the need to develop new institutions that help the 99% obtain more of both. The atypical conditions that made possible the postwar boom fostered the development of institutions that now are losing strength. With a nod to Tolstoy, Alperovitz encourages the reader to ponder how to redress the staggeringly unequal distribution of wealth. His survey of the American landscape highlights co-ops, employee stock ownership plans, publicly owned utilities and hospitals, and other already-successful alternatives to the for-profit corporate model. By so doing, he persuasively argues, new constituencies tied to these alternative models will emerge. His emphasis throughout is on the local level, as if to emphasize the movement toward a new American community that he espouses. The reader is certain to find his views challenging, even if the schism between conventional corporatism and "New Age" practices that Alperovitz envisions seems to evoke the gulf between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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