Confronting Injustice: Social Activism in the Age of Individualism

About the Book

A new generation of activists working for economic and environmental justice, and against war and poverty, confronts critical questions. Why is the world so unjust and crisis-prone? What kind of world should we fight for? How can we win? In this panoramic yet accessible book, Umair Muhammad engages with these and other urgent debates. He argues that individual solutions like buying green" are dead ends and that hope for the future lies in a radical expansion of democracy and the transformation of the economy from one based on profit to one that can meet human needs

Table of Contents:
•Chapter 1: The Age of Individualism

Argues that the culture of individualism is an outgrowth of capitalism, and discusses the various ways in which this culture negatively impacts our activism.

•Chapter 2: Inequality and Activism

Discusses the historical roots of global inequality and highlights the failures of liberalism to combat it -- this chapter is in significant part framed as a critique of Peter Singer's popular book The Life You Can Save.

•Chapter 3: Climate Change and Activism

Points out that the environmental crisis has its roots in the structures of our social system. (The material in this chapter covers some of the same ground as Chris Williams’ Ecology and Socialism, which Haymarket published in 2010. Chris was given a copy of Confronting Injustice a few months ago and he wrote me an encouraging email about it.)

•Chapter 4: The Way Forward

Makes the case that we have to struggle to achieve socialism in order to create socially just and environmentally sustainable world.
A pdf of the book is attached for you to review. If it turns out that Haymarket wants to publish Confronting Injustice, I would be interested in writing an afterword for the new edition.


About the Author :

Mohammad Umair's research focuses on the political economy of climate change. Umair has been involved in anti-poverty and environmental activism for six years. He is a member of the editorial team of Delusions of Development, and a member of Jane and Finch Action Against Poverty.

Review :
"A highly recommended read for those who are interested in working together to transform society."
—Chelsey Rhodes, Founder of DelusionsofDevelopment.com

"This book will force activists to check their intentions. I wasn't even halfway done before I wanted to share it with everyone I knew."
—Maryama Ahmed, Toronto-based Community Organizer

Confronting Injustice is a wide-ranging and unflinching look at the global nature of the challenges contemporary activists seek to address. Its blend of environmental and anti-imperialist analysis, grounded in direct organizing experience, makes this a powerful and important resource.
—Dru Oja Jay, coauthor of Paved with Good Intentions

“What [Umair] provides is an opening statement in an important discussion that activists must have....A must-read book for today’s activists”
—Ian Angus, author of Too Many People?

"Decades ago, I and my friends agonized over... our first steps in radical politics. But it was much easier then to find answers than it is now in the context of the relentlessly individualistic culture of neoliberalism. Muhammad has done well in his original and effective argument for commitment to collective and transformative social action."
—John Riddell, Toward the United Front: Proceedings of the Fourth Congress of the Communist International, 1922
"A highly recommended read for those who are interested in working together to transform society."
—Chelsey Rhodes, Founder of DelusionsofDevelopment.com

"This book will force activists to check their intentions. I wasn't even halfway done before I wanted to share it with everyone I knew."
—Maryama Ahmed, Toronto-based Community Organizer

Confronting Injustice is a wide-ranging and unflinching look at the global nature of the challenges contemporary activists seek to address. Its blend of environmental and anti-imperialist analysis, grounded in direct organizing experience, makes this a powerful and important resource.
—Dru Oja Jay, coauthor of Paved with Good Intentions

“What [Umair] provides is an opening statement in an important discussion that activists must have....A must-read book for today’s activists”
—Ian Angus, author of Too Many People?

"Decades ago, I and my friends agonized over... our first steps in radical politics. But it was much easier then to find answers than it is now in the context of the relentlessly individualistic culture of neoliberalism. Muhammad has done well in his original and effective argument for commitment to collective and transformative social action."
—John Riddell, Toward the United Front: Proceedings of the Fourth Congress of the Communist International, 1922