Naomi Klein, author of ‘On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a New Deal’, has been an activist against capitalism’s exploitative practices since 1999. Scathing critiques against the world’s largest and most powerful brands for their unethical manufacturing practices was Klein’s forte when she burst into the activism scene in the late nineties. Her radical, research backed ideas made her one of the most powerful voices in America’s left, with her call for a more humane status quo capturing the imagination of millions. Klein’s work was so widely read and discussed that multinational corporations were forced to sit up and take notice- Nike replied to her criticism of their manufacturing practices point by point.
In 2009, Klein shifted her focus to the environment, where damage seemed to be compounding at record levels. Her 2014 book ‘This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate’ attacked neoliberalism at its core. Klein’s ideological butchering exposed a causal relationship between neoliberalism’s belief in never-ending growth and environmental degradation as a consequence. This formidable career of advocating against some of the most powerful institutions and individuals on the planet makes Klein a highly qualified candidate to author an appeal for sweeping global change at an ideological level. Klein believes a series of political, ecological, social and psychological changes must occur simultaneously to save the environment; she aggregates all these changes under the term ‘Green New Deal.’ This simple thesis rests at the heart of Klein’s compelling argument: that “humanity has a once in a century chance to change an economic model which is failing people on many fronts.”
The author’s decades-long experience in exposing the average person to the misdoings of global corporates culminates in the tactical expertise to make issues sound less technical and more palatable. Klein’s origins as an investigative journalist come through strongly; she combines her reporting experience with the arc of a story to simplify her thesis. Although facts are presented objectively, the ‘good versus evil’ archetype is ever-present. It is sixteen year-old Greta Thunberg (good) versus the complacent members of international governments (bad). It is indigenous communities (good) versus colonial powers (bad). The absence of a neutral standpoint makes for a compelling story, though it perhaps violates the first rule of reporting: tell both sides of the story without bias. The introduction to the book sees Klein addressing her critiques directly. She admits that critics accusing her of leftist propaganda are not without justification, but that all of humanity will be doomed if we do not band together against the larger threat of environmental destruction.
There is a strong emphasis on carefully researched facts, with each fact strategically selected to shock readers into action. The facts provide a solid foundation for Klein to rest her case, and also quantify the goals that need to be achieved. Global temperature rise needs to be kept under 1.5 degrees Celsius, even though the United Nations predicts it will rise between 3 and 5 degrees Celsius before the end of the century: this statistic is a strong anchoring point for the conceptual introduction of the Green New Deal.
Amidst the statistical data and policy level propositions, a socio-cultural narrative emerges. Greta Thunberg’s school walk-outs and blunt speeches to word leaders served as a spark igniting youth protests all over the world. The consistent advertising efforts of fossil fuel companies to assure citizens that all was normal, when in reality out metaphorical house is ‘on fire’. Most importantly, the higher sense of purpose that would unite all of humanity if we were to join hands for the environment, against our governments and fossil fuel companies. All these factors are woven into an interconnected web, which presents the powerful idea that despite the disastrous present, a better future is still possible.
The intent of Klein’s book is unquestionable: sparking action. The good versus bad archetype is strategically deployed for the same purpose. Klein’s thesis may be biased towards one side of the story, but this bias is not without comprehensive justification. Starting from the exploitation of poor and indigenous communities by the Anglosphere (a collective of nations consisting of the North American continent, the United Kingdom, certain parts of Western Europe and Australia) and shifting to the executives of fossil fuel companies and politicians with strong vested interests in profit generating businesses that harm our environment, historical development is viewed through a subaltern lens.
Klein is not an environmentalist by profession. She occupies an intersectional space between activism, feminism, environmentalism and egalitarianism. The multiple movements that Klein is a part of share certain common ‘enemies’: enemies she is extremely vocal in denouncing. The final essay on the 2020 election describes her rationale for publishing her book in late 2019. She believes that drawing the public’s attention to the need for a Green New Deal will ensure that environmental agenda is a key decision factor when electing the United States’ next president. Political motives aside, Klein stresses that the critical window to act is a narrow one, and without complete global cooperation, humanity’s last chance at salvation will slip by unnoticed, until catastrophe hits.
