Ecologism and marxism: intersections and theoretical frameworks

Sociology

Marxist Ecologism

Although ecologism is rapidly developing into a political ideology in its own right, its widespread acceptance and influence continues to rely on its relationship with other, existing ideologies. One of the most important, and influential, of the 'isms' is Marxism, and the link between it and ecologism is increasingly becoming the subject of academic and political study. This is especially true within the field of environmental sociology, where the Marxist perspective's ability to address the issues of ecologism and sustainability is the root of growing debate and analysis.

Ecologism, which according to Andrew Dobson, "holds that a sustainable and fulfilling existence presupposes radical changes in our relationship with the non-human natural world, and in our mode of social and political life" (2), is a relatively new arrival to the field of environmental politics. Only a few decades ago, environmental and ecological issues, such as global warming, genetically modified food, or acid rain were known to only a select group of scientists. Today, however, these and many other problems have become a part of common knowledge and have been incorporated into everyday language. As a result, a growing number of individuals and groups have sought to understand the underlying causes of these issues, in order to work towards possible solutions. This explosion of 'green' interest has focussed not only on the most obvious environmental causes of ecological damage, but has increasingly turned its attention to the study of economic and political concerns, and the potential contribution that can be made by existing political ideologies. Although comparative studies continue to examine the possible contributions of conservatism, liberalism, and feminism, among others, it is the ideology of Marxism that has the greatest potential to improve the body of knowledge and understanding that presently exists within ecologism.

Unlike many other ideologies, and despite its failings, Marxism confronts its central themes of inequality and exploitation with an admirable degree of insight and commitment. This enthusiasm and surety in its beliefs is equally apparent in the Marxist analysis of ecologism as it is in its dealings with any other issue. Founded upon the ideology's central tenets of class conflict, dialectical and historical materialism, and exploitation, Marxism, not surprisingly, places the blame for the world's environmental degradation firmly at the door of capitalism.

It is true that many commentators, from a wide range of political ideologies, have pointed out the responsibility and blame that must be attached to industry for the increasing levels of environmental decay. Marxism, however, distinguishes between industry and the true culprit - capitalism. The Marxist view is that industry itself is incapable of causing the present levels of degradation, but rather it is capitalism's 'use' of industry, in its endless thirst for profit, that lies at the root of the current problems. By concentrating on profit rather than need, and by its continuing global expansion, capitalism's cycle of production and consumerism has necessarily led to many periods of overproduction and, therefore, the associated degradation and destruction of nature and natural resources. This has led many Marxist commentators to claim that, eventually, capitalist production will result not only in further environmental problems, but also in capitalism's own demise. James O'Connor explains this as, " the combined power of capitalist production relations and production forces self-destruct by impairing or destroying rather than reproducing their own conditions" (1996). These 'impairments', which will eventually threaten capitalism's profit making include those mentioned earlier; such as global warming and acid rain.

Marxist ecologism also extends the concept of alienation into the arena of environmental politics. In addition to its recognized definition within the workplace, alienation is also used by Marxist ecologists to describe the manner in which humanity has become distanced or removed from the remainder of the natural world, thus lessening any resistance to its exploitation by capitalism. The alienation of humanity from nature is encouraged by capitalism's tendency to compartmentalize the natural world into individual utilities, which are measured by their value and usefulness. Therefore, rather than a singular, ecological system, the capitalist world views nature as numerous, separate commodities, and considers humanity to be totally separate from it. Additionally, according to Marxist ecologism, the present environmental decay has been accelerated as a result of capitalism's promotion and maintenance of an individualistic society. Just as nature is perceived as merely the aggregate of numerous separate entities, so too has the social nature of human beings become divided and separated into instruments for the sole purpose of commodity production for profit (O'Connor, 1996).

In light of this analysis, Marxist ecologism suggests that there can be only one effective solution to the world's environmental problems, and to restore humanity to its historically rightful position as an integral part of the natural world. In common with its major economic and political objectives, Marxism claims that sustainable capitalism is no longer possible or desirable, and the time has come to replace it with an alternative system. According to O'Connor, "the evidence of this system's [capitalism] vast environmental plunder and ecological degradation favors the judgement that capitalism is not ecologically sustainable" (1996). This is a view also shared by many other ecologists, and not only those from within the Marxist wing.