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), but simply to usefully trace pieces of political thought and influence. It is, therefore, with no apology that this book chooses to title its conclusion after Thoreau and indeed to base its concluding vision on his. Less so Walden, but certainly Wild Fruits, provide the beginnings of a blueprint for de-growth society. Thoreau insists upon collectivity for the sake of the collective, rather than as part of a market system. This is seen in his response to the Brook Farm experiment, and can be usefully related to current discourses on de-growth that promote simply
, the significance of Thoreau’s social and political thoughts lies precisely in his seeing a relationship between self-reform in individuals and wider social justice and political democracy (2008:37). Therefore, accusations that his primary concern was not for society but for the individual can be more usefully viewed within the context of his concern regarding the relationship between the individual and the State. It is within this context that his view on social reform being mainly realised through individual self-reform ought to be assessed. Still the best