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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The real scoop on the Green Party, May 17, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Against All Odds; The Green Transformation of American Politics (Paperback)
Book Review Against All Odds John Rensenbrink Raymond, ME Leopold Press, Inc. 1999 reviewed by Greg Gerritt First a note. John Rensenbrink, author of Against All Odds, is a close friend and colleague. I have worked with John on some of the campaigns mentioned in the book and I am mentioned in regard to the events in those campaigns. The American news media seem to be more interested in flash and pizzazz than any real analysis of political trends. A 10 second soundbite is much more common than in depth analysis, and a movement that grows slowly from many centers, rather than as a centralized movement that grows rapidly directed by Beltway politicos, may be completely off the radar screen, invisible to the American public who relies upon the mass media for information. Occasionally a journalist, writer, or dilettante will attempt to give us the scoop on a movement flying below the radar screen, but the odds of them presenting an accurate account, providing a complete explanation of the core values and the personalities of the movement, is exceedingly thin. The real scoop seems to only come when one of the leading activists of the movement commits themselves to paper. Therefore anyone interested in the Green Party in the United States, in the role of ecology in our society, in the development of political parties outside the Democratic and Republic parties, or politics in general should welcome the arrival of John Rensenbrink's second book on the Green Party "Against All Odds". John Rensenbrink has written a completely up to date book on where the Green Party is now, how it has gotten there over the last 15 years, and the core values that underlie everything the Greens do. Rensenbrink helped convene the first official Green Party meeting in the United States in 1984, and ever since he has been in the forefront of the movement, helping shape the philosophy and values as well as convening important meetings, chairing national committees, starting important organizations, running for the US Senate, and mentoring emerging leaders. A retired professor of political science, Rensenbrink is able to place what the Greens are doing in a context that goes back to Ancient Greece and is as current Kosovo. The Green Party is based on values, Ecological Wisdom, Non Violence, Social Justice, Democracy, and in the first half of "Against All Odds" Rensenbrink explores the values that have shaped Green thinking. Especially interesting is his discussion of ecology and the way it permeates Green work in all areas. What may be Rensenbrink's most important contribution to study of organizations based on non violence is his discussion of conflict within the Greens. Many people assume that conflict is abhorrent to an organization based on non violence, but Rensenbrink points out how important it is for groups to actually discuss their differences and create mechanisms for moving forward. With this as a context the factionalism in the Greens can be viewed as a healthy part of their evolution rather than a fatal flaw. The second part of the book gives a history of the Greens. Rensenbrink previously wrote "The Greens and the Politics of Transformation" in 1992 and includes of couple of chapters from that book to start the historical section. 1991 was a very important year in the development of the Green Party so the immediacy of having material written at that time is a nice touch. Rensenbrink then brings us up to date with some very detailed stories, allowing the reader to meet some of the characters that are important in Green Politics. His participation in all of the currents of recent Green history biases the account, but as most of the other books written about the Greens have come from members of other factions, it balances the history out, and as the faction that Rensenbrink participates in has become the dominate organizing force in the Greens, and the group leading the Green movement into participation in the larger American political scene, it gives a much clearer picture of where Green organizing is going. The writing in the first half of the book is in the deep philosophical strain, but Rensenbrink's ability as a story teller shines in the latter half. Especially comical are his descriptions of the way Left Green leaders have reacted to the development of the Green Party. The winners get to write the final version of the history, and Rensenbrink hilariously exacts his revenge for the abuse he has taken over the years. Green politics is still a minor strain in American politics, but as the recent victory of Audie Bock in a California legislative race shows, a growing one. Rensenbrink has brought an insiders perspective to this story and told a story that an outsider could not tell as well. If you are interested in third party development, ecological politics, or the Green Party, "Against All Odds" is not to be missed.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Able to provide practical guidence to activists!, November 18, 1999
This review is from: Against All Odds; The Green Transformation of American Politics (Paperback)
This is one of the few books that actually goes beyond the ego of an author strutting his or her intellectual stuff, or plugging into archane debates with only a vague idea how those debates might somehow be useful. John provides fine intellectual tools and guidence, but also a basic factual history and a discussion of what it is like to be an activist, and what pitfalls/ opportunities there are to look for. His is the begginning of a discussion, hopefully a systematic one that builds througout the years, of how to be a grass roots activist. It is indeed not a job for amateurs - activism, done right, takes years to develop, and needs to be a healthy part of one's life to sustain that commitment. John starts that discussion - what are the common sorts of things that activists experience, stages they go through and ideas/views they have of themselves and the process along the way. Further, what choices have activists made that helped them, and what choices simply lead them down the road to dropping out. With this information, it becomes possible that more people might survive the reality of activism after the invigoration of idealism - something that provides the only hope for a truely grass roots movement and basis of power.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exercise your mind, April 14, 2000
This review is from: Against All Odds; The Green Transformation of American Politics (Paperback)
This is a thoughtful book, full of ideas that challenge "conventional thinking." It offers tremendous insight into what is quickly becoming the US's Third party. (Candidate Nader is outpacing Reform's Buchanan in the latest Zogby poll 4/11/00.)
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