This open access book is an exploration of a new economic paradigm that envisions regenerative civilizations. It dives into the conceptual foundations for a new economic architecture, explores building blocks of regenerative economies and shows a tapestry of economic practices pioneering the new. On the backdrop of the multiplicity of contemporary global crises and the deficiencies of prevailing economic paradigms it departs from traditional economic models. Authored by a diverse group of notable international experts, the book advocates for a fundamental shift in understanding the purpose of economies as a cornerstone of societal wellbeing. It lays the groundwork by emphasizing life-centered core elements of economies such as ecology, peace, sustainability, care, and the role of the commons. This book serves as a thought-provoking guide for policymakers, economists, and concerned scholars, urging a shift towards regenerative civilizations informed by life-sustaining economic systems.

Petra Kuenkel is a futures researcher, transformation psychologist, and Senior Lecturer at Leuphana University, Germany. She specializes in systemic and feminist approaches to sustainability, economic, and societal transformations, with a focus on collective agency, governance, and transformative power practices. As the founder of the Collective Leadership Institute and developer of the Collective Leadership Compass, she is widely recognized for her contributions to transformation research and practice. Petra Kuenkel is a Fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Science and served on the Executive Board of the Club of Rome from 2018 to 2024. Her publications include Women, Power and the Economy (Routledge, 2025), Stewarding Sustainability Transformations (Springer Nature, 2019), The Art of Leading Collectively (Chelsea Green, 2016), and Transformation Literacy: Pathways to Regenerative Civilizations (Springer Nature, 2022), which she co-edited.