Defending communities - Local exchange trading systems from an environmental perspective

Much of the academic literature on globalisation and resistance has tended to focus narrowly on the opposition of states against markets, of Keynesian welfare economics against the neo-liberal model behind globalisation. This literature obscures the fact that other forms of resistance are emerging a t the local level. These developments are largely spontaneous, and insofar as they reflect a political agenda, it is one which is derived from an alte rnative, Green perspective rather than traditional social democracy. Local currency systems can be seen as one such form of resistance. In this articl e I consider the environmental credentials of local exchange trading system s (LETS) and assess their potential to build an alternative economic model at the local level. I conclude by discussing some of the obstacles which fa ce LETS development and consider how they may be addressed.