Changing the Mould of World Politics

This is an ambitious book that is the fruit of a lifetime's experience and reflection. The author is a Pole who lived through the second world war and the communist period leading to what he calls the 'end of ideology'. We are now living through a decisive period in which the 'Life Destruction System' has reached its limits both in terms of military build-up and environmental overload. Intellectually and politically we have reached the 'lip-service' phase but lack the collective political will to reverse current trends. Szymanski's proposals amount to a set of demands for individuals and nations. Mutual empathy and symbiosis with nature would be new levels of achievement, while the other demands revolve around a broad definition of security and self-identity/self-determination. His key concept is 'responsible politics' based on non-violence, which he then translates into specifics at the 'real politics' level. Systemic change will come, but are we ready to adapt without being forced to do so? Historical precedents are not encouraging, but this book grapples valiantly with the realities of our overall situation.