“Most of the time, however, national governments have no interest in empowering ordinary citizens, or are openly hostile to them. Solidarity networks frequently arise when large-scale communities, weary of generations of exploitation and oppression, stop hoping that centralized authorities will alleviate their suffering and realize that the liberation they seek will only materialize from their own capacities. Emerging worldwide in diverse cultural and environmental conditions, they share certain core principles. Claiming autonomy to govern themselves and manage their own institutions and resources, their legitimacy arises from widespread community participation and collective identity. They tend to emphasize the degree possible, diversification of production to exchange goods with other communities, and sustainable ecological management.” — Lent, Jeremy. EcoCivilization: Making a World That Works For All. Melville House, 2026.pp.237-238