Empowering Change: A Book to Build Just Societies

My name is Alan, originally from Barcelona, now living in Germany. I am a data scientist and research activist, and I am embarking on a journey to answer a crucial question:

How can we transform our societies into ones that are socially just and within planetary boundaries?

This book is not just another critique of our current systems. It is a call to action, designed to reach a mainstream audience and illuminate how the inflationary trends, conflicts, and environmental crises we face today are symptoms of a system in dire need of change. More importantly, it offers hope by showcasing real, viable alternatives—systems that are more just, resilient, and capable of providing safety and well-being for all.

Unlike other works that spend the majority of their pages critiquing capitalism with only vague solutions, this book is a practical guide. It’s a blueprint for designing and building alternative systems that provide access to basic services—energy, food, care—in an affordable, universal, and regenerative manner.

However, this book’s impact hinges on being grounded in real-world examples and thorough fieldwork. It will delve into concrete case studies, such as the energy transition in Girona (Catalonia) and the movement to end arms exports from Germany to the Israeli military.

The funding I seek will support not only the book’s editing and publishing but also the travel necessary to present these findings and conduct the essential fieldwork that makes this project both credible and transformative.

This project is the centerpiece of my thesis for the Master's in Degrowth at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. It aims to answer some of the most pressing questions of our time:

- Why are we experiencing a polycrisis?

- Why is it impossible to reform green capitalism?

- What are the real and desirable alternatives?

- What framework can help us articulate a new system?

- How can we design alternative systems for energy, food, care, and more?

- What institutional changes are needed to make these alternatives a reality?

- How can we garner broad support for such a transformation?

- How can we plan this change in a democratic way?

- How can we ensure the resources needed for this transition?

- What are the main obstacles, and how can we overcome them?

This book is more than a thesis—it’s a manifesto and cookbook for change. With your support, we can inspire and equip people everywhere to take part in building a just and sustainable future.

The funds will be mainly used for covering editing, publishing, fieldwork and train travel expenses to present the content to change makers. I will report every week on the progress in my LinkedIn account and blog.