A Plague of People

There are great threats to modern civilisation, which are now becoming evident. Past forecasts suggesting a global collapse around 2030 are proving robust. This book follows the development of understanding of the global predicament, building on a considerable body of research, to conclude that the collapse is now inevitable and that there has been, and will continue to be, an absence of preventative action. The subject is extremely important and of wide interest.
The topic of the future of civilisation requires consideration of many subjects, of a number of interacting trends. A considerable body of information, from many sciences, many scholars and many collective enterprises, provides a description of the overshoot of global capacity, and a forecast of the collapse of modern civilisation. The major question has been whether mankind would change and avoid the catastrophe. Consideration of human behaviour, culture, political systems and social control explains why there has been no adequate response for the past forty years and why the destructive pattern will continue. Similarly, an analysis of long waves (Kondratieff cycles) in economies includes reference to the denial of any such fundamental instability by mainstream economics.
The scope of the discussion is comprehensive, covering the interaction between many key issues such as overpopulation and climate change, resource shortages (including water, food and oil), with input ranging from computer models to the history of mankind. Dr Robinson has dealt with every question raised by the global picture, including the power of corporate fascism (the oligarchy or one-percent) in a controlled consumer society.
This description will interest those with growing concerns among the general population, the many in voluntary organisations who desire a better understanding of a troubled world, and schools and tertiary institutions whose task is to educate the new generation in an understanding of the complex world.
The challenge facing us all as humanity fills every ecological niche on earth demands a fundamental change, of political and economic organisation, as well as individual values – a global revolution. There have been a number of books dealing with such concerns, many of which are discussed here. The great majority fail to face the need for a significant change of culture, a paradigm shift, and thus conclude with hopes that the system that is the very cause of the challenge (including capitalism with its dependency on growth) can be tidied up, or that a universal acceptance of a beneficial religion or community effort can save the day without any challenge to the now dominant oligarchy. This book stands out for its brutal honesty and refusal of unrealistic hopes. It tells the true story of failure rather than presenting any unrealistic hope. The next generation will be best served by a robust presentation of a distressing situation, and this is a story of that coming collapse based on an extensive scientific analysis. The challenges ahead are best faced with clear understanding with our heads fearlessly held up, out of the sand.