This book is a critique of the four major “isms” that have dominated global politics over the last two thousand years. Two of them are based on religion: Christianity and Islam. The other two are secular ideologies: capitalism and socialism/communism. Each of the four profess to be rooted in humanism and fairness towards all human beings. They began in the Middle East and Europe respectively. However, while rhetoric surrounding justification for their spread emphasizes equality and dignity for all of humanity, the reality is different. None of these “isms” provide perspectives on how the human-ecological nexus should be steered towards sustainable living on the planet, or provide frameworks for curbing excesses in the ruthless accumulation of power and wealth. The second half of this book covers this, and suggests renewed attempts towards this goal through the Eastern and American “First Nations” philosophies of humanism, rather than overplayed Middle Eastern aggression or Eurocentrism. After 2000 years of religious and political domination from the latter regions, the world needs to free itself from the rhetoric and actions of each of these four “isms”.
