Online book launch: Our Planetary Condition – Foundations for a Politics with the Earth
Wednesday, 2 December 2026 | 17:00–18:00 CET | Online via Zoom
What would it mean to do politics with the Earth? How might our understanding of politics and our planetary existence change if we recognized the political agency of rivers and forests, atmospheric processes and technological infrastructures?
Join the authors Frederic Hanusch, Liza B. Bauer, Clemens Finkelstein and Claus Leggewie for the online launch of Our Planetary Condition: Foundations for a Politics with the Earth, published by MIT Press in its Earth System Governance series. Bringing political theory into conversation with the environmental humanities and planetary research, the book explores how politics can engage with the living, nonliving and technological forces that shape our shared existence. It develops a framework for political thought and practice oriented toward planetary habitability.
The one-hour event will open with brief remarks from series editors Frank Biermann and Oran Young, followed by contributions from the authors, reflections from the discussants and an audience Q&A.
The authors will discuss the book’s arguments with:
- Milja Kurki, E.H. Carr Chair in International Politics at Aberystwyth University, whose relational approach offers new perspectives on international politics.
- Madhulika Banerjee, Professor of Political Science at the University of Delhi, whose work engages Indian politics, democracy and knowledge systems.
- Nils Gilman, senior advisor to the Berggruen Institute, deputy editor of Noema and co-author of Children of a Modest Star.
The conversation will be moderated by Angela Snæfellsjökuls Rawlings, Canadian-Icelandic interdisciplinary artist-researcher and founder of the Snæfellsjökull for President campaign.
More information about the book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262057011/our-planetary-condition/
