1. Overview
Jeremy Rifkin, born on January 26, 1945, is an American economic theorist, social theorist, writer, public speaker, political advisor, and activist. He is also the founder and president of the Foundation on Economic Trends (FOET), an organization that has significantly influenced public policy both in the United States and internationally. Rifkin is known for his sharp critiques of existing capitalist systems, conventional lifestyles, and the potential pitfalls of modern science and technology. He has authored 23 books exploring the profound impact of scientific and technological advancements on the economy, the workforce, society, and the environment.
Rifkin's core ideas revolve around concepts such as the "Third Industrial Revolution" (TIR), which proposes a long-term economic sustainability plan designed to tackle the global economic crisis, energy security challenges, and climate change. His vision for a sustainable future emphasizes the transition to renewable energy, the development of an "energy internet," the rise of the sharing economy, and the cultivation of global consciousness through empathy. He has actively advised governments and international organizations, including the European Union, China, and South Korea, on adopting his ideas to shape their policies and economic blueprints. Rifkin's work is characterized by its broad scope, encompassing both natural and human sciences, and advocating for social and environmental progress, often through litigation and public education initiatives.
2. Biography and Early Activism
Jeremy Rifkin's life and career have been marked by a consistent engagement with critical social and environmental issues, beginning with his early education and participation in peace movements, and continuing through his establishment of influential organizations dedicated to scrutinizing economic and technological trends.
2.1. Youth and Education
Jeremy Rifkin was born in Denver, Colorado, on January 26, 1945, to Vivette Ravel Rifkin and Milton Rifkin, who was a plastic-bag manufacturer. He spent his formative years growing up on the southwest side of Chicago. Rifkin attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he served as president of his graduating class in 1967. He earned a bachelor of science degree in economics from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. In recognition of his achievements, he also received the University of Pennsylvania's General Alumni Association's Award of Merit in 1967.
During his academic years, Rifkin actively participated in the peace movement. He continued his anti-war activities while pursuing further education at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where he obtained a master's degree in International Affairs in 1968. Following his graduate studies, Rifkin joined Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), further cementing his commitment to social engagement.
2.2. Early Social Movements and Foundation on Economic Trends
Rifkin's activism gained significant prominence in the 1970s. In 1970, he founded the People's Bicentennial Commission, an organization dedicated to offering "revolutionary alternatives for the United States Bicentennial years." This initiative aimed to challenge traditional celebrations and promote a more critical reflection on American values and institutions.
In 1973, Rifkin organized a large-scale protest against oil companies at the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party at Boston Harbor. This demonstration, which involved thousands of participants dumping empty oil barrels into the harbor, was a response to the sharp increase in gasoline prices following the OPEC oil embargo in the fall of 1973. The press subsequently dubbed this event the "Boston Oil Party." In 1976, the People's Bicentennial Commission held a rally on the Capitol Mall as an alternative to the official Bicentennial celebrations.
In 1977, Rifkin co-founded the Foundation on Economic Trends (FOET) with Ted Howard. This foundation became a pivotal platform for Rifkin's engagement with national and international public policy concerning the environment, the economy, and climate change. FOET's mission involves analyzing emerging trends and their implications for society, culture, and the environment. The organization employs various strategies, including litigation, public education, coalition building, and grassroots organizing, to advance its objectives. That same year, Rifkin emerged as one of the earliest prominent critics of the nascent biotechnology industry with the publication of his book, Who Should Play God?.
In 1978, Jeremy Rifkin co-authored The North Will Rise Again: Pensions, Politics, and Power in the 1980s with Randy Barber. This book, coupled with the authors' active engagement with the American Labor Union movement, the financial community, and civil society organizations, played a significant role in fostering the era of socially responsible investment of public and union pension funds in America. The book helped establish early principles for what would later develop into Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards in investments.
3. Major Works and Core Concepts
Jeremy Rifkin's extensive body of work systematically explores the intersections of science, technology, economics, and society, often offering profound critiques of modern paradigms and proposing alternative paths toward a sustainable and equitable future. In South Korea, he is widely known for his books Entropy and Beyond Beef.
3.1. Environmentalism and Entropy
Rifkin's 1980 book, Entropy: A New World View, co-authored with Ted Howard, presented a worldview rooted in the second law of thermodynamics, applying the physical concept of entropy to various societal domains, including nuclear energy, solar energy, urban decay, military activity, education, agriculture, health, economics, and politics. The book was influenced by Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen's 1971 work, The Entropy Law and the Economic Process, and Georgescu-Roegen himself wrote the afterword for Rifkin's 1989 revised edition, Entropy: Into the Greenhouse World.
In Entropy, Rifkin argued that humanity is facing an increasing depletion of usable energy and resources, leading to a state of societal degradation. While the book received praise for its comprehensive worldview and its role as a successor to influential environmental texts like Silent Spring, The Closing Circle, The Limits to Growth, and Small Is Beautiful, it also attracted significant criticism. Critics, including experts in thermodynamics, argued that Rifkin misinterpreted the Second Law of Thermodynamics, applying it arbitrarily to social and economic systems beyond its scientific scope. This sparked debates about the scientific rigor of his arguments.
3.2. Critique of Modern Society and Alternative Economic Paradigms
Rifkin has consistently delivered sharp critiques of modern society and capitalism, often highlighting the problematic consequences of unchecked technological advancement and economic models.
In 1992, Rifkin published Beyond Beef: The Rise and Fall of the Cattle Culture, which offered a comprehensive critique of the beef industry, citing economic, medical, environmental, and ethical arguments for reducing beef consumption. The book garnered praise for its "fresh thinking" and "well-reasoned arguments." Following its publication, Rifkin launched the Pure Food Campaign in 1992, advocating for government labeling of all genetically engineered foods, and the Beyond Beef Campaign in 1993. This latter campaign, a coalition of environmental groups including Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network, and Public Citizen, aimed for a 50% reduction in beef consumption, partly due to concerns about methane emissions from cattle, which Rifkin noted has a warming effect significantly greater than carbon dioxide.
His 1995 book, The End of Work: The Decline of the Global Labor Force and the Dawn of the Post-Market Era, became a seminal work that influenced global discussions on automation, technological displacement of labor, corporate downsizing, and the future of employment. Rifkin prophetically argued that society was entering a phase where fewer workers would be needed to produce goods and services due to advancing software technologies, leading to a "near-workerless world."
In The Biotech Century: Harnessing the Gene and Remaking the World (1998), Rifkin addressed the ethical and societal implications of genetic commerce. He warned that "genetic engineering represents the ultimate tool," allowing control over "the hereditary blueprints of life itself," and questioned whether such power could be wielded "without substantial risk." He highlighted potential shifts such as replication replacing reproduction and the use of genetically customized animal clones for industrial purposes. While critiqued for its scientific rigor, the book was recognized by the journal Nature for drawing attention to the dangers and ethical dilemmas posed by genetic technologies and for Rifkin's skill in communicating complex scientific trends to the public. Rifkin's work in the biological sciences also extended to advocacy for animal rights and protection.
The concept of the sharing economy was first introduced in Rifkin's 2000 book, The Age of Access: The New Culture of Hypercapitalism, Where All of Life is a Paid-For Experience. He argued that society was shifting from traditional property ownership in markets to access to services in networks, characterized by short-term, limited use of assets controlled by suppliers.
3.3. Sustainable Future and the Third Industrial Revolution
Rifkin's vision for a sustainable future is primarily articulated through his concept of the Third Industrial Revolution (TIR), a framework that integrates renewable energy, digital communication, and distributed production.
His 2002 book, The Hydrogen Economy: The Creation of the Worldwide Energy Web and the Redistribution of Power on Earth, laid the groundwork for his energy transition proposals. Later that year, as an advisor to Romano Prodi, then President of the European Commission, Rifkin helped develop a strategic white paper committing the European Union to a multi-billion Euro research and development plan to transform the EU into a green hydrogen economic paradigm. Rifkin and Prodi announced this plan, aiming for Europe to become the first "hydrogen economy" superpower of the 21st century, comparing its significance to the U.S. space program. In the U.S., Rifkin helped found the Green Hydrogen Coalition, a group dedicated to building a renewable hydrogen-based economy.
In 2004, Rifkin's book, The European Dream: How Europe's Vision of the Future is Quietly Eclipsing the American Dream, became an international bestseller, winning the 2005 Corine Literature Prize in Germany for the best economics book. The book presented Europe's emphasis on quality of life, sustainability, and cultural diversity as a compelling alternative to the traditional American Dream.
His 2009 work, The Empathic Civilization: The Race to Global Consciousness In a World In Crisis, argued that humans are fundamentally an "empathic species," challenging the conventional view of human nature as solely aggressive or self-interested. Rifkin proposed that extending empathy on a global scale is crucial for humanity's survival in an increasingly interconnected world.
The comprehensive vision of the Third Industrial Revolution was fully detailed in his 2011 book, The Third Industrial Revolution: How Lateral Power is Transforming Energy, the Economy, and the World. This book became a New York Times best-seller and has been translated into 19 languages, with approximately 500,000 copies in print in China alone by 2014. The TIR blueprint advocates for combining renewable energy, the Internet of Things, and digital manufacturing to create a distributed, collaborative economy.
In 2014, Rifkin published The Zero Marginal Cost Society: The Internet of Things, the Collaborative Commons, and the Eclipse of Capitalism. This book explored how the proliferation of the Internet of Things and the rise of the collaborative commons are driving marginal costs toward zero, potentially leading to the "eclipse of capitalism" and the emergence of a hybrid economic system.
His 2019 book, The Green New Deal: Why the Fossil Fuel Civilization Will Collapse by 2028, and the Bold Economic Plan to Save Life on Earth, served as a rallying cry for the United States to embrace a transition away from the fossil fuel era. The book outlined a comprehensive economic plan to address climate change and foster a sustainable future.
Most recently, in 2022, Rifkin published The Age of Resilience: Reimagining Existence on a Rewilding Earth. This work further develops his vision of humanity shifting towards an "age of resilience," where productivity gives way to regenerativity, and GDP is superseded by quality of life indicators. He anticipates a future where consumerism, corporate conglomerates, and globalisation diminish in favor of "eco-stewardship," high-tech co-operatives, and "glocalisation" (local-global integration).
4. International Influence and Advisory Roles
Jeremy Rifkin has significantly impacted policy formulation globally, serving as an advisor to numerous governments and international bodies, and receiving notable recognition for his contributions.
The "Third Industrial Revolution" (TIR) sustainability plan, primarily conceptualized by Rifkin, received formal endorsement from the European Parliament in 2007, highlighting his influence on European Union policy. He has been a key architect of the EU's long-term economic vision, known as "Smart Europe." In October 2002, he advised Romano Prodi, then President of the European Commission, on a multi-billion Euro research and development plan aimed at transitioning the EU to a green hydrogen economic paradigm. In January 2017, the European Central Bank hosted a conference where Rifkin delivered a keynote address on transforming the EU into a smart Third Industrial Revolution paradigm. Shortly after, in February 2017, he joined Maros Sefcovic, Vice President of the European Commission, and Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions, to present the smart city and smart region agenda across the European Union in Brussels. In 2019, the European Commission and its president, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the European Green Deal, a plan to make Europe the "first climate neutral continent in the world" by 2050, explicitly linking it to "Leading The Third Industrial Revolution" and signaling a fundamental transformation of the European economy and society.
Rifkin's ideas have also profoundly influenced China. In October 2015, The Huffington Post reported that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang had not only read Rifkin's book, The Third Industrial Revolution, but had also incorporated its concepts into the core of the country's thirteenth Five-Year Plan. This integration was described as the most momentous shift in direction for China since the era of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.
In South Korea, Rifkin delivered a keynote address at the Global Green Summit 2012, hosted by the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), in association with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). During this event, then-President Lee Myung-bak endorsed the Third Industrial Revolution as a pathway to advance a green economy in South Korea.
In 2016, TIR Consulting Group, LLC, with Rifkin as its president, was commissioned by both the Metropolitan Region of Rotterdam - The Hague (MRDH) and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to develop regional master plans for transforming these jurisdictions into zero emission Third Industrial Revolution economies. Citizens' assemblies were established in both regions to collaborate with TIR Consulting Group's team on initiatives for climate change mitigation and "greening" their economies and societies.
In the United States, Rifkin and TIR Consulting Group, along with partners, published a 16.00 T USD, twenty-year "America 3.0 Resilient Infrastructure plan" in 2021, prepared for Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer. This plan details a massive investment to scale and deploy a smart digital zero-emission Third Industrial Revolution infrastructure, projected to create an average of 15 to 22 million new jobs and return 2.9 USD in GDP for every dollar invested between 2022 and 2042.
Rifkin has also contributed to public understanding of environmental issues through media. In 2021, he provided economic and environmental commentary for the fifth and final episode of the BBC documentary series A Perfect Planet, starring David Attenborough.
Throughout his career, Rifkin has received several prestigious awards and honorary degrees. He was awarded the America Award by the Italy-USA Foundation in 2012. In 2015, he received honorary doctorates from Hasselt University and the University of Liege, both in Belgium. In December 2020, Rifkin was a recipient of the 13th annual German Sustainability Award for his work on addressing climate change, presented by Sigmar Gabriel, the former Foreign Minister and Vice-Chancellor of Germany.
5. Reception and Criticism
Jeremy Rifkin's work has elicited diverse responses, ranging from high praise for his influential contributions to policy and public discourse to sharp critiques regarding the scientific foundation and methodological approaches of his arguments.
5.1. Positive Reception
Rifkin is widely acknowledged for his significant influence on the European Union's ambitious climate and energy policy. His concepts, particularly the "Third Industrial Revolution," have been formally endorsed by the European Parliament and integrated into major policy frameworks, including the European Green Deal. In the United States, Rifkin has testified before numerous congressional committees and achieved success in litigation aimed at ensuring responsible government policies on various environmental, scientific, and technological issues. For instance, his lawsuit led to a federal court ruling in 1984 that halted the first deliberate release of genetically engineered organisms into the environment, compelling the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct risk assessments. This ruling is credited with initiating the regulation of genetically engineered organisms in the U.S. and globally.
The Union of Concerned Scientists has cited some of Rifkin's publications as valuable resources for consumers. Beyond his policy and legal achievements, Rifkin is lauded for his ability to articulate complex scientific and technological trends to a broad public audience. The New York Times has praised him for his willingness to "think big, raise controversial questions, and serve as a social and ethical prophet," recognizing his role in challenging conventional thought and forewarning society about critical issues. Nature, in its review of The Biotech Century, noted that scientific institutions could learn from Rifkin's success as a public communicator.
5.2. Criticisms and Controversies
Despite his influence, Rifkin's work has been controversial, drawing criticism for perceived deficiencies in scientific rigor and his rhetorical tactics. He has been criticized for arbitrary interpretations of complex scientific concepts and for employing logical fallacies, such as the straw man fallacy. For instance, his 1980 book Entropy was criticized for misinterpreting the Second Law of Thermodynamics and applying it inappropriately to social and economic phenomena, given his background in economics and international relations rather than formal scientific training.
His 1984 book, Algeny: A New Word-A New World, which explores the implications of biotechnology, faced particularly strong academic condemnation. Stephen Jay Gould, a prominent paleontologist and evolutionary biologist, famously characterized Algeny as "a cleverly constructed tract of anti-intellectual propaganda masquerading as scholarship," stating that he had "never read a shoddier work" among books promoted as serious intellectual statements. While Gould acknowledged not disagreeing with Rifkin's core plea for respecting evolutionary lineages, he criticized Rifkin's "devious means" and "lamentable tactics."
In a 1989 profile, Time magazine famously labeled Jeremy Rifkin "The Most Hated Man in Science" and "the nation's foremost opponent of environmental neglect." The article acknowledged his justification in seeking regulations for genetic research but questioned the fairness of his "angriest assaults on scientists as mad magicians and unethical disciples of Dr. Strangelove." It suggested that his success might slow basic research, delay medical advancements, and potentially harm the economy. Norton Zinder, a geneticist at Rockefeller University, reportedly called Rifkin a "fool" and a "demagogue." In response to such criticisms, Rifkin has asserted that these critiques merely confirm he is "on the right track."
6. Bibliography
- 1973, How to Commit Revolution American Style: Bicentennial Declaration, with John Rossen, Lyle Stuart Inc.
- 1975, Common Sense II: The Case Against Corporate Tyranny, Bantam Books
- 1977, Own Your Own Job: Economic Democracy for Working Americans
- 1977, Who Should Play God? The Artificial Creation of Life and What it Means for the Future of the Human Race, with Ted Howard, Dell Publishing Co.
- 1978, The North Will Rise Again: Pensions, Politics and Power in the 1980s, with Randy Barber, Beacon Press
- 1979, The Emerging Order: God in the Age of Scarcity, with Ted Howard, Putnam
- 1980, Entropy: A New World View, with Ted Howard (afterword by Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen), Viking Press
- 1983, Algeny: A New Word-A New World, in collaboration with Nicanor Perlas, Viking Press
- 1985, Declaration of a Heretic, Routledge and Kegan Paul
- 1987, Time Wars: The Primary Conflict In Human History, Henry Holt & Co
- 1990, The Green Lifestyle Handbook: 1001 Ways to Heal the Earth (edited by Rifkin), Henry Holt & Co
- 1991, Biosphere Politics: A New Consciousness for a New Century, Crown
- 1992, Beyond Beef: The Rise and Fall of the Cattle Culture, E. P. Dutton
- 1992, Voting Green: Your Complete Environmental Guide to Making Political Choices In The 90s, with Carol Grunewald Rifkin, Main Street Books
- 1995, The End of Work: The Decline of the Global Labor Force and the Dawn of the Post-Market Era, Putnam Publishing Group
- 1998, The Biotech Century: Harnessing the Gene and Remaking the World, J P Tarcher
- 2000, The Age Of Access: The New Culture of Hypercapitalism, Where All of Life is a Paid-For Experience, Putnam Publishing Group
- 2002, The Hydrogen Economy: The Creation of the Worldwide Energy Web and the Redistribution of Power on Earth, Jeremy P. Tarcher
- 2004, The European Dream: How Europe's Vision of the Future is Quietly Eclipsing the American Dream, Jeremy P. Tarcher
- 2010, The Empathic Civilization: The Race to Global Consciousness In a World In Crisis, Jeremy P. Tarcher
- 2011, The Third Industrial Revolution: How Lateral Power is Transforming Energy, the Economy, and the World, Palgrave Macmillan
- 2014, The Zero Marginal Cost Society: The internet of things, the collaborative commons, and the eclipse of capitalism, Palgrave Macmillan
- 2019, The Green New Deal: Why the Fossil Fuel Civilization Will Collapse by 2028, and the Bold Economic Plan to Save Life on Earth, St. Martin's Press
- 2022, The Age of Resilience: Reimagining Existence on a Rewilding Earth, St. Martin's Press
- 2024, Planet Aqua: Rethinking Our Home in the Universe, Polity Pr