Articles by Robert Jensen
Feminism Is Freedom for Men: Pornography and Sexuality
Julie Bindel Substack ·
A version of this essay was presented in the “Pornography and Society” lecture series at RheinMain University in Wiesbaden, Germany, on November 21, 202
Controversy in Intellectual/Political Life: An Interview with Robert Jensen
In-sight Publishing ·
In this interview, Jensen reflects on tensions in contemporary intellectual and political life in the United States.
Losing Honestly and Gracefully
Dissident Voice ·
A realistic assessment of race, sex/gender, and ecological crises are not attractive campaign positions.
Black Hole
Julie Bindel Substack ·
This essay is adapted from the book Plain Radical: Living, Loving, and Learning to Leave the Planet Gracefully, about the political/intellectual life of my late friend Jim Koplin. For more information on him, go to https://robertwjensen.org/category/jim-koplin/.
“Unduly Abused”
Julie Bindel Substack ·
This essay is adapted from the book Plain Radical: Living, Loving, and Learning to Leave the Planet Gracefully, about the political/intellectual life of my late friend Jim Koplin. For more information on him, go to https://robertwjensen.org/category/jim-koplin/.
What is Woke? Navigating the Polarization of Social Justice
Public Square Magazine ·
This essay is adapted from It’s Debatable: Talking Authentically about Tricky Topics, published by Olive Branch Press. https://robertwjensen.org/books/its-debatable/
“Intellectual Hick”: Sorting Out Our Complex Identities
Dissident Voice ·
I have started describing myself as an “intellectual hick.” I have no problem defending my intellectual contributions but also am happy to be living at a healthy distance from official intellectual spaces. Even with neighbors who don’t agree with my politics, our shared interest in caring for the land and water creates deep bonds.
Ironic and Tragic: Technological Fundamentalism and Our Fear of Limits
Counterpunch ·
This essay is adapted from It’s Debatable: Talking Authentically about Tricky Topics, published by Olive Branch Press.
How to Lose Friends and Influence Very Few People
Julie Bindel Substack ·
There are personal consequences from taking intellectual/political positions that generate criticism not only from political opponents but also from friends/allies.
Population: The Fear of Limiting People and Our Things
Population Balance ·
This essay is adapted from It’s Debatable: Talking Authentically about Tricky Topics, published by Olive Branch Press.
What Is Cancel Culture, and Is It a Good Thing?
Counterpunch ·
This essay is adapted from It’s Debatable: Talking Authentically about Tricky Topics, published by Olive Branch Press.
Reasonable People Can Disagree
Front Porch Republic ·
This essay is adapted from It’s Debatable: Talking Authentically about Tricky Topics, published by Olive Branch Press.
There Is No Such Thing as Free-Speech Absolutism
3 Quarks Daily ·
This essay is adapted from It’s Debatable: Talking Authentically about Tricky Topics, published by Olive Branch Press.
Fears of Patriarchy: Why Trans Ideology Is Attractive
Julie Bindel Substack ·
This essay is adapted from It’s Debatable: Talking Authentically about Tricky Topics, published by Olive Branch Press.
The Problem with LGBTQIA+
Julie Bindel Substack ·
This essay is adapted from It’s Debatable: Talking Authentically about Tricky Topics, published by Olive Branch Press.
Facing a Future of Fewer and Less: “Tell Them at Least What You Say to Yourself”
Resilience.org ·
This essay is adapted from It’s Debatable: Talking Authentically about Tricky Topics, published by Olive Branch Press.
Wrangling Our Political Herds: Upholding Intellectual Standards, No Matter Who Gets Angry
Merion West ·
This essay is adapted from It’s Debatable: Talking Authentically about Tricky Topics, published by Olive Branch Press.
Radical Feminism and the Failures of the Left
Julie Bindel Substack ·
This is an edited version of a presentation to a forum on “The Left and Machismo” sponsored by Hombres por la Equidad in Mexico City on May 18, 2024.
Why I Don’t Rely on Hope
Merion West ·
This essay is adapted from his book An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity, co-authored with Wes Jackson.
Academic Joy
Front Porch Republic ·
A reflection on teaching that I wrote in 2012, one of several “statement of teaching philosophy” essays I had to write over the years for performance reviews. Rather than pontificate on academic freedom, important though it is right now, I want to reflect on academic joy, about what can be so exciting about the life of the mind—even in the modern university.
Feminism and Men: Shut Up and Speak Up
Julie Bindel Substack ·
This is an edited version of a presentation to the Hombres por la Equidad (Men for Equality) conference in Mexico City on November 7, 2023. It draws on material from Getting Off: Pornography and the End of Masculinity (South End Press, 2007); The End of Patriarchy: Radical Feminism for Men (Spinifex Press, 2017); and the forthcoming “Dead Dogma”: Thinking Freely, Speaking Responsibly, Living Authentically (Interlink Publishing, 2024).]
Lost in a Sea of Pixels: Men, Pornography, and the Illusion of Control
Public Square Magazine ·
Is pornography sabotaging men’s emotional connections and ability to experience authentic intimacy? These emotional consequences are often overlooked in mainstream discussions.
The Case for Retiring “Confederate Heroes Day”
Merion West ·
The controversy over the public display of Confederate symbols seems to be a permanent part of American politics and culture. As we come to know more about the morally repulsive aspects of our national history—and, more importantly, face those realities—removing symbols of our collective failure in the past is not an attempt to deny our history. Rather, it is a sign of growth, a willingness to face our history. Such work is not mere political correctness or wokeness but a sign of maturity, intellectual and moral. It is nothing more than common decency.
Still Waiting for Freedom: A Review of P. Sainath’s The Last Heroes
Counterpunch ·
A review of P. Sainath’s 2023 book, The Last Heroes: Foot Soldiers of Indian Freedom.
Cancel War Stories
Front Porch Republic ·
A radical analysis of power and a robust defense of freedom of expression is crucial for a radical feminist critique.
Drag Story Hour and Cultural Appropriation
Julie Bindel Substack ·
An analysis of the controversy over Drag Story Hour, from a radical feminist perspective.
Four Hard Questions: Size, Scale, Scope, Speed
The Progressive Magazine ·
An excerpt from An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity. https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268203665/an-inconvenient-apocalypse/
Reject the Consumer: Imagining A New Identity Politics
Front Porch Republic ·
An excerpt from An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity. https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268203665/an-inconvenient-apocalypse/
Feminism and Prostitution: Beyond ‘The Happy Hooker’
Nordic Model Now! ·
A version of this essay was presented to the “Students for sale: Tools for resistance” conference sponsored by Nordic Model Now!, October 15, 2022, in London. The video is online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk3Xcuds6X0 , from 1:19:30-1:33:50.
No Easy Answers: Facing Ecological Crises Honestly
Merion West ·
An excerpt from An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity. https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268203665/an-inconvenient-apocalypse/
Milling around: A philosophy of life for a time of ecological collapse
ABC Religion & Ethics ·
An excerpt from An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity. https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268203665/an-inconvenient-apocalypse/
Truths We Can’t Bear Alone: Facing an ‘Inconvenient Apocalypse’
The Revelator ·
An excerpt from An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity. https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268203665/an-inconvenient-apocalypse/
Human-Carbon Nature
Counterpunch ·
An excerpt from An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity. https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268203665/an-inconvenient-apocalypse/
The Politics of Overconsumption and Getting the Scale Right
Common Dreams ·
An excerpt from An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity. https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268203665/an-inconvenient-apocalypse/
Knowledge versus Ignorance: The Limited Scope of Human Competence
LA Progressive ·
An excerpt from An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity. https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268203665/an-inconvenient-apocalypse/
The Dual Population Problem: People and Things
Common Dreams ·
An excerpt from An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity. https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268203665/an-inconvenient-apocalypse/
We Are One Species
Counterpunch ·
An excerpt from An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity. https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268203665/an-inconvenient-apocalypse/
Why Is This Not Enough?
Merion West ·
An excerpt from An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity. https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268203665/an-inconvenient-apocalypse/
A portrait of the artist as an old man: Wes Jackson in conversation with Robert Jensen
The Ecological Citizen ·
An edited transcript of Episode 5 of “Podcast from the Prairie.” https://podcastfromtheprairie.com/