Summary: 

Human beings are political as well as social animals and sustainable development is ultimately a political act – or, more precisely, a series of political acts. How this politics is played out, how we govern ourselves, how we make decisions and act upon them, is the subject of this chapter. Politics and governance within the context of sustainable development certainly require learning from experience, theoretical understanding, and a continuous looking for the best ways in which progress can be achieved and maintained.

For many, the most appropriate direction to follow is one that involves extensive democratization  and participation in decision making at all levels from the global to the local levels of the neighbourhood and work place.Strong democracy and green reason may become married to other concepts too, such as ecological citizenship, eco-welfare and the Right to the City.

The idea that sustainable development encompasses all of humanity can, and perhaps should, be taken further still to embrace a less anthropocentric and a more ecocentric philosophy and practice.After all, human beings are not the only creatures who inhabit this planet and in many ways all of us, human and non-human, need each other in order to thrive and prosper materially, culturally and spiritually.

Homework: 

Review Chapter 5 and preview Chapter 6.