Into The Tempest

William I. Robinson is professor of sociology at the University of California-Santa Barbara. He worked for a decade prior to entering academia as an investigative journalist in Central America and has lectured widely at universities around the world on the topics of the global economy, international politics, and contemporary world affairs. Among his many award-winning books are: Global Capitalism and the Crisis of Humanity (2014), Latin America and Global Capitalism: (2008), and A Theory of Global Capitalism (2004).

"[T]his book would be particularly relevant for students and scholars struggling to make sense of real-world issues. Robinson’s interest in offering a theoretical alternative is not out of purely scholarly interest, but is instead rooted in his devotion to a worldwide movement leading to a just society. Such compassion can be seen in his deliberate efforts to maintain a good balance between scholarly exploration and tight engagement with current events." —Science and Society"Robinson has by now accumulated an extraordinary mix of knowledges about global capitalism. Having worked in very diverse areas of the world, he brings to it a kind of wisdom, and this enables the reader to grasp the breadth of instances  of the global in today’s world." —Saskia Sassen, Columbia University, author of Expulsions "Know your enemy and know yourself...’ is how the iconic Sun-tzu  began  his famous command.  William Robinson offers those engaged in the struggle against global capitalism a remarkable and compelling insight and framework in order to both understand our opponents as well as better grasp the strengths and weaknesses of the oppressed and dispossessed.  This is the book for which I have been waiting and I could not put it down.” —Bill Fletcher, Jr., former president of TransAfrica Forum; coauthor of Solidarity Divided and author of They’re Bankrupting Us: And Twenty Other Myths About Unions "William Robinson’s Into the Tempest is a timely account of global gentrification. While most scholars concentrate on the city, Professor Robinson covers its global impact that has resulted in environmental destruction, social inequalities, and displacement of billions of people around the world. This has led to forced mass migrations. As in the case of micro gentrification society is entering the final stages of inequality accelerating a global collapse of modern civilization. Few realize that the state after gentrification is a Blade Runner world - a dystopian society devoid of human emotion and a collective historical memory." —Rodolfo F. Acuña, Professor Emeritus, Chicana/o Studies Department, California State University Northridge "William Robinson's Into the Tempest is a collection of his essays on the emergence of a global police state and the nature of 21st century Fascism.  It applies a trenchant structural analysis of the world-system with a Gramscian effort to theorize and mobilize liberatory social movements that challenge the reactionary forces emerging during the contemporary period of crisis. Robinson is the one of the best macrosociologists of his generation. His comparative and temporally deep perspective drives a synthesis of the global capitalism and world-system perspectives in a way that allows us to see through the fog of globalization." —Chris Chase-Dunn, Sociology,University of California-Riverside  "This book is a treasury of big-picture insight from our leading theorist of the emerging system of global capitalism. Robinson’s project – to understand the political economy in order to change it–stands as the preeminent successor to Marx’s project from an earlier epoch. For readers perplexed about our changing world and apprehensive about its future, here is your primer and call to action." —Paul Raskin, author of Journey to Earthland "Robinson's brilliant and courageous research has culminated in this pathfinding work of political reconnaissance that traces capitalism's virulent history, exposes its contradictions, locates its capacity to reorganize and digitally reconfigure itself as the fulcrum upon which the survival of the transnational ruling elite rests, and presents an alternative social logic and transgressive strategies for transcending the proliferation of injustices wrought by the existing social order. A masterpiece!" —Peter McLaren, Distinguished Professor in Critical Studies, Chapman University; Chair Professor, Northeast Normal University, China "Into the Tempest challenges us to look at the big picture, to examine without blinders the dramatic changes that have re-shaped 21st century capitalism and led to a true crisis of human civilization. Without flinching, it goes on to present theoretical and political analyses that help inform our quest for strategic clarity as we fight for a different world." —Max Elbaum, author of Revolution in the Air: Sixties Radicals Turn to Lenin, Mao and Che “Into the Tempest provides an excellent introduction to the work of one of the most innovative Marxists in the arena of international political economy.” –Pete Green, Marx & Philosophy Review of Books"Robinson concludes the final chapter of his book with the statement, 'Understanding the social forces and their political and cultural agents that shape global society is essential for building the systemic movement for a transition to ecosocialism.' Into the Tempest contributes brilliantly to that project. It is a major contribution to a revolutionary praxis that aims to transcend capitalism for a life-affirming ecosocialist future." —Climate and Capitalism