Why Love Matters

Values in Governance

As our current systems of decision-making are increasingly unable to meet the global challenges of climate change, resource depletion, poverty, healthcare, economic instability and global violence, the contributors in this book make a radical proposal for an innovative form of governance that is based on core human values such as love, compassion, care, justice and dignity. Arising from a concern that the «old paradigm» of alienation, consumerism, selfishness and exploitation is damaging for humankind and the family of Earth, the book postulates that a new way of being must be in place so that intrinsic values of caring for others should underpin the intent of our decisions at personal, regional, national, international and global levels. With illustrative references and examples in fields of politics, economy, health and peace, the content of this book argues forcefully that Love, with a capital L, matters in governance, where values can serve as the basis to transform human consciousness about international institutions, community relationships and individual actions. Why Love Matters provides an important introductory text to students of global governance, management studies, political economics, international relations and peace studies, and equally offers illuminating and instructive ideas to leaders, managers and practitioners who are interested in what values-based governance means and looks like and how to go about it in practice.