At a time when rising food prices have become a global concern and food riots are weakening governments, we need to look beyond short-term measures to deeper structural reforms. It is important to understand the political and cultural background of necessary changes, and it is appropriate to look at the contributions of earlier reformers. George Russell (1867-1935) helped create agricultural cooperatives in Ireland after Independence as part of a larger aim of spiritual awakening to a greater life.

by Rene Wadlow

Kathryn Tidrich has written an interesting new biography of Mahatma Gandhi: Gandhi. A Political and Spiritual Life(London: I.B. Tauris, 2006, 380 pp.) which will be reviewed separately in the Book Review section.