Charles Reitz is a major scholar of the work of Herbert Marcuse and an important commentator on the global crises faced by contemporary society. In this new book he continues to apply the critical Marxism of Herbert Marcuse to contemporary problems such as the destructive nature of global capitalism, the politics of neofacism, racism, ecological destruction, etc. This book is a necessary read for anyone who is struggling to understand the social, ecological, political, and economic crisis in which we live. Reitz’s careful analysis opens the door for new and creative ways to address our present situation. Indeed, it is a new call for what Marcuse termed the “Great Refusal.” –Arnold L. Farr, Professor of Philosophy, University of Kentucky, author of Critical Theory and Democratic Vision: Herbert Marcuse and Recent Liberation Philosophies.

To the rising fascist threat — brewing since Marcuse’s time in Nixon’s USA — Reitz counterposes the themes of ecology and humanism, both of these analyzed in a global, multicultural light, from European socialist humanism to African Ubuntu. He brings to life new critical resources from Marcuse’s corpus of writings, much of it only recently unearthed. This offers new insights not only into the expected realms of ideology and culture, but also into the under- lying economic structures of capitalism, all of it posed in terms of the chances of a genuine human emancipation unseparated from the world of nature. –Kevin B. Anderson, author of Marx at the Margins

Reitz wields revolutionary Marcusean theory against those who would protect hate speech and promote resurgent fascism in our own day. We really need an EarthCommonwealth Counteroffensive to replace the brutality of capital and patriarchy with global ecosocialism and partnership power! — Javier Sethness Castro, author of Eros and Revolution: The Critical Philosophy of Herbert Marcuse and Queer Tolstoy: A Psychobiography.

What we are against has found What we are for! –Andrew T. Lamas, University of Pennsylvania, co-editor of The Great Refusal: Herbert Marcuse and Contemporary Social Movements.

Things have gotten out of kilter in the United States and within the global capitalist system. The endless search for profit, new markets and resources leads to re-colonization and imperialism, war, death, and destruction. Reitz offers a vision of intercultural solidarity against the resurgent politics of white supremacy and oligarchic wealth idolization. His book is a call to action. –Ewa Unoke, Professor and Coordinator of Political Science, Kansas City Kansas Community College, author of Global Security After Evil and Life of Nobody: Reparation to Africa―The Law of Karma is Strong.

An outstanding contribution to critical social theory that takes account of the intersectional characteristics of global capitalist exploitation including theeconomies and populations of the Global South in the process of capitalist accumulation as these have led to the ecological catastrophe we are experiencing today. –Sergio Bedoya Cortés, Profesor de Filosofía, Facultad de Filosofía y Ciencias Humanas, Universidad Libre de Colombia.

Drawing on immense knowledge of the philosophy of Herbert Marcuse and a wide range of anthropological and other sources, Reitz identifies the promise of happiness contained within a humanist, intercultural ethics grounded in sensuous living labor. In the name of the Earth itself, the time has come for a Great Refusal, and Reitz has provided key insights that can enlightenment and inspire all those involved in the struggle to give birth to a new world. Reitz develops a powerful vision for an ecosocialist alternative to capitalism’s mutilation and devastation of our shared environment, EarthCommonWealth. –Brandon Absher, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Honors Program, D’Youville University, author of The Rise of Neo-Liberal Philosophy.

Charles Reitz is a leading voice in the resurgence of discussions of Herbert Marcuse, socialist humanism, and ecology. The philosophical views of Marcuse, Karl Marx, and critical educationist Peter McLaren are enriched by African social and ethical philosophy, Indigenous American thought, and radical feminism. Reitz reflects on how the world’s wisdom traditions intersect in a richly textured, multi-dimensional vision of intercultural solidarity. He never leaves behind the crucial dimension of political economy. Reitz offers a critique of oligarchic wealth, imperialism, white supremacy/racism, and the toxic masculinity that is so closely related to authoritarian populism. Reitz’s book is a timely theorization of current crises and a clarion call for desperately needed ecosocialist change. –Terry Maley, Associate Professor, Department of Politics, York University, Toronto, editor of One-Dimensional Man 50 Years On: The Struggle Continues.For many decades now, Charles Reitz has been working with the critical theoretical approaches of Herbert Marcuse to update a radically ecological theory of society. Reitz’s approach is a synthesis between Marcuse’s reflections on the affluent society and his critique of capitalism inspired by Marx and Hegel and a critical engagement with the eco-anarchist and social theorist Murray Bookchin. His key new concept, EarthCommonWealth, envisages a new system of common property and management based on a comprehensive vision of an ecosocialist system alternative. –Peter-Erwin Jansen, Koblenz University of Applied Sciences, editor of the literary estates of Herbert Marcuse and Leo Löwenthal.