In Citizens, author Jon Alexander explores how humanity has transitioned from being "citizens" with community at the heart of our actions to "consumers" who feel powerless in the face of global crises. He identifies three stories that have shaped history: the "Subject Story" of hierarchy and obedience, the "Consumer Story" of instant gratification and market logic, and the emerging "Citizen Story". Alexander argues that our institutions treat people as passive creatures to be sold to, yet when we are treated as creative, empowered "Citizens," everything changes. The work is an "upbeat handbook" filled with inspiring case studies—from Taiwan's digital democracy to community-led projects in Kenyan slums—demonstrating how unleashing the power of everyone can equip us to face economic insecurity and the climate crisis.
The book challenges the "Consumer Story" as a narrative that tells us we are entitled but passive, whereas the "Citizen Story" emphasizes collective action, collaboration, and individual agency. Alexander argues for "citizenship-as-practice"—the active engagement in shaping society rather than just a legal status. By transforming business models to create platforms for meaningful citizen engagement and reimagining governance through participatory democracy, we can build a more sustainable, inclusive, and joyful future. The work serves as a "perfect pick-me-up" for leaders and citizens alike, advocating for a shift from individualism to community engagement to survive and thrive as a species.
Shifting from Consumer to Citizen: Alexander’s "Citizen Story" is the absolute precondition for the Sacred Canopy of Care, rooted in the belief that human nature is creative, capable, and caring rather than competitive and lazy. The transition from a "Subject" (dependence) to a "Consumer" (independence) and finally to a "Citizen" (interdependence) represents a profound evolution of our social contract. The canopy is protected by this "campfire democracy," where the purpose of government and organizations is to provide the space for people to come together to meet collective needs. This requires moving beyond "Small-p politics"—the everyday ideas and resources we use—toward a systemic narrative that gives nature a voice and prioritizes reciprocity over effective altruism.
Citizens supports the Sacred Canopy of Care by providing the narrative framework that empowers individuals to see themselves as "creative, empowered creatures" capable of collective restoration and caring for the "campfire" that is our shared future.