Emerging from a civilisational anguish, Dominion and Dharma by Vivek Singhal portrays a rapid decline of values in the world. Driven by domination, the world is increasingly focusing on exploitive technology, unchecked capitalism, essentially taking away humanity’s spiritual essence. The author argues that capitalism remains a violent imposition of humankind that originated from the Papal Bulls and has been manifested via colonialism, slavery, and modern corporations. The book also offers an intimidating account of a timely intervention for residents of a world that is struggling with economic growth amidst ecological degradation.
The book dissects the historical and spiritual underpinnings of what the author reasons as a declining civilisation. The book also offers a detailed account of how capitalism has become a system of conquest, justified by religious hegemony and economic rationale. Simultaneously, it offers the contrasting facts of the dharmic worldview, focusing on harmony, community, ethical responsibility, and reverence for nature. This is established by exploring the pre-catalist world of India, China, Africa, and indigenous America, where land was considered sacred and communal — a considerable difference to Europe’s commodification and privatisation. To understand this aspect better, the book focuses on the theological foundations of capitalism that find their root in the Abrahamic tradition, where empires and subjugations are justified as divine missions.
The author speaks about two primary worldviews — dominion and dharma. He calls the exploitative force of global capitalism the former, whereas he portrays the latter as a way of life that integrates harmony, ethical responsibility, and reverence for nature. But the edge of the book lies within its historical context that discusses seemingly disparate events and ideologies all across the world, from the Madeira plantation economy to modern-day Mahatma Gandhi. The author challenges the moral justifications of empires, exposes the nature of scientific racism and the impact of the industrial revolution — aspects that he argues contributed to the mechanisation of life in stark contrast to the Dharmic perspective.
The book puts significant relevance to Mahatma Gandhi as an exemplar of civilizational critique. The author discusses Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence, ethical economics, and decentralized governance — arguing that his moral and spiritual integrity offers a pathway forward to a just and sustainable future. His argument also focuses on establishing Mahatma Gandhi’s vision as an ideal alternative to industrial capitalism, an aspect that focuses more on the well-being of humankind instead of material accumulation.
Vivek Singhal stresses that these forces are in play in the contemporary world as well. “Today, dominion comes in the form of algorithmic governance and Artificial Intelligence which essentially threatens to further erode individual autonomy and interiority. The world is treating the entire humankind as a predictable data point, which is why we must advocate for a dharma-based technology that integrates consciousness and ethical alignment,” he says. “The call for an ethical technology becomes particularly relevant today because of the pervasive influence of algorithms and AI,” he further adds.
The author further advocates for a notable shift from scarcity-based economics to a new-age economy that finds its foundation in “sacred wealth”. This is where material prosperity becomes intimately linked with ethical duty, that is, Dharma. In his account, he calls for going beyond GDP as the metric of progress, and establishing metrics that focus more on the well-being, ecological balance, and ethical prosperity to establish a future where sovereignty is custodianship for generations. “Dominion and Dharma” proposes for an inner awakening by returning to Dharma, calling the humankind to focus more on enlightenment than exploitation. The call also points out how to build a civilization of dharma by cultivating presence, engaging in deep work, and embracing conscious living.
‘Dominion and Dharma’ provokes deep thoughts and challenges readers to check their assumptions about modern society. Its ambitious scope, supplemented by the author’s deep dives in history and the contemporary world, and compelling arguments helps readers with a deeper understanding of humanity’s challenges and advocate the vision of a more harmonious future. It prompts reflection and motivates action, and lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.
