In Defense of Public Services, and 3 Other Reading Recommendations

Each Saturday, Alternatives Economiques selects books for you that deserve to be read.

This week, we recommend: “Service public ou barbarie,” by Arnaud Bontemps; “Les natures du productivisme. Une histoire environnementale de la France, de 1940 à nos jours (vol. 3),” by Renaud Bécot, Christophe Bonneuil, and Gabrielle Bouleau; “Politiques de la rareté. Des origines du capitalisme à la crise écologique,” by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson and Carl Wennerlind; “La ville écologique – Pour le plaisir d’y vivre et pour le recul du réchauffement climatique,” by Marc Huret.

1/ “Service public ou barbarie,” by Arnaud Bontemps

High-ranking civil servant, magistrate at the Court of Auditors, Arnaud Bontemps is the founder of the collective Nos services publics. This means he knows his subject well and offers a book that is informative and relevant on a crucial topic for democracy.

He starts by painting a worrying picture of the attacks on public services worldwide, in the United States, Hungary, Italy, Argentina, and more. These public services often serve as potential checks against illiberal leaders in these countries, and attacking them can open up markets in areas such as health and education.

In France, public services are also in crisis, and while the French are attached to them, their confidence is decreasing. There is a loss of meaning among civil servants, which the author suggests addressing by breaking through authoritarian barriers and reinventing work to escape bureaucracy. Despite what detractors may say, public services are both a condition of equality and an effective way to manage areas like health and education.

2/ “Les natures du productivisme. Une histoire environnementale de la France, de 1940 à nos jours (vol. 3),” by Renaud Bécot, Christophe Bonneuil, and Gabrielle Bouleau

This third volume confirms the necessity of an environmental history of France, especially in an international context like the colonial empire and global trade. It goes beyond traditional histories to reassess and revisit them.

The authors highlight the resistance movements against nature’s disasters that emerged before the environmental movements following 1968. They aim to give a voice to those often accused of indifference to environmental issues by keeping track of their protests against pollution they faced.

3/ “Politiques de la rareté. Des origines du capitalisme à la crise écologique,” by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson and Carl Wennerlind

This book explores the various interpretations of scarcity throughout history, distinguishing between two main approaches: the “cornucopian” approach that believes human desires can be satisfied despite limited resources through constant scientific and technological progress, and the “finitist” approach that acknowledges resource limitations and advocates for moderation. The authors provide a valuable historical perspective.

4/ “La ville écologique – Pour le plaisir d’y vivre et pour le recul du réchauffement climatique,” by Marc Huret

The author, an urban planner, laments the urban sprawl and the necessity of cars in cities. He discusses the importance of creating vibrant and pleasant neighborhoods where amenities are within reach to create a livable environment. Planning for social aspects is crucial but challenging in reality.

[Context: Alternatives Economiques reviews selected books on various topics.]
[Fact Check: French authors and their works are accurately mentioned in the article.]