Climate Change, The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Public Pedagogies

Climate Change, The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Public Pedagogies: The Case for Ecosocialism uses public pedagogy as a theoretical lens to examine climate change emergency and presents a solution to the issue in ecosocialism. The book addresses the climate's relationship with capitalism and the role of activism in highlighting the climate change emergency. With respect to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Cole assesses the pro-capitalist arguments that this revolution can be considered a progressive force and critiques them from a Marxist perspective. A case is made for ecosocialism, a form of socialism that is informed by feminism, inclusivity and real democracy. Ecosocialism, it is argued, can address climate change destruction and harness the potential fruits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution for the good of all. The book ends by addressing the other great threat to civilisation alongside climate change, with a postscript providing some final words of warning about the dual perils of climate change and nuclear warfare. This highly topical book will be of interest to scholars, postgraduate students and researchers, as well as to advanced undergraduate students in the fields of environmental studies, pedagogy, and sociology. It will also appeal to all readers who are concerned with the onward march of climate change destruction.

Mike Cole is Professor in Education in The International Centre for Public Pedagogy at the University of East London, UK. He is the author of Trump, the Alt-Right and Public Pedagogies of Hate and for Fascism: What is To Be Done? (Routledge, 2020) and Theresa May, The Hostile Environment and Public Pedagogies of Hate and Threat: The Case for a Future Without Borders (Routledge, 2020).

Introduction, 1. Capitalism and planetary destruction: activism for climate change emergency, 2. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR): capitalist defence and Marxist critique, 3. Saving the planet and harnessing technology for the good of all: the case for ecosocialism, Postscript: One hundred seconds to midnight