Introduction

Abstract

This volume provides a transdisciplinary examination of debt, as a human construct that spans history, sociology, law, economics, graphic design, religion, environmental science, politics, and more. Written for an undergraduate audience, this text is ideal for provoking classroom discussions that not only point out the gravity of the social and environmental crises we face in the twenty-first century, but also seeks to set students free to create innovative solutions. Examinations of climate change, the carceral state, housing, health care, education, and social justice are presented from varying perspectives of debt. Why does such a persistent deficit of care permeate so much of our lives? Whom do we owe? Where are the offsetting credits? Often regarded as a constraint on our ability to meet the challenges of our day, this volume reimagines debt as a social construct capable of empowering people to organize sustainable prosperity for all.