Alain 27/08/05
1. The appointment we missed
- The 'ecological question': a totality of objective
facts concerning ecology as a science and a series of subjective phenomena on
the level of society (consciousness of limits, quality, respect for living
beings)
- Marxists have missed an appointment on two levels:
knowledge of the facts, integration of ecological consciousness
- The field is left open to the Greens. Consequences.
2.
Marxism as perceived by the Greens, or the six environmental sins of historical
materialism
- The 'glorification of work': a gross
misunderstanding
- To Have and to Be: What 'abundance', what 'needs'?
Overproduction and over-consumption
- the 'liberation of the forces of production': was
Marx a productivist? The concept of 'forces'. The concept of 'development'.
Quantity and quality. Necessity and freedom.
- 'Domination' and 'control' of Nature. Nature as 'a
useful thing for Man'. The concept of 'social metabolism' humanity-nature. No
'epistemological break'
- 'Unlimited' development of the forces of production?
Three remarks on the question of limits:
*
materialist conception of the world and limits;
* beyond the
particular examples of land and forests, key role of the concept of limit in
the theory of rent;
* absolute
limits, relative limits.
- Marx, Engels and 'faith in progress': the 'grand
civilising action' of capital. Dialectic of progress. Progress and technology.
The example of Darwin.
- Intermediate conclusion: 'Marx's ecology'(J.B.
FOSTER). The only two sources of all wealth. Large-scale industry and
large-scale industrial agriculture.
3.
Marxists confronted by Marx's ecology: an exaggeratedly negative balance sheet,
a potential that is under-utilised
- Deforestation, manure, urban pollution; the specific
contributions of Marx and Engels are underestimated
- Scientific pertinence and actuality of the concept
of 'social metabolism'
- Strong programmatic conclusions:
* ownership
of land/ownership of resources;
* abolition
of the separation between town and country
- 'Exploitation of the Earth' and 'exploitation of
human beings': more than a parallel, a fundamental identity. The force of human
labour as a natural resource.
4. The appointment that was missed: why? Some
hypotheses with comments
- 'Marx the green angel', 'Marx the productivist
demon'(BENSAÏD)? Asking the right question
- Stalinism
and social democracy do not hide the responsibility of revolutionary Marxists
- J.B. FOSTER:
the rupture between Marxism and the natural sciences
- T. BENTON:
the deficiency of the Marxist concept of labour
- J.O'CONNOR:
the thesis of the 'second contradiction'
- Some other
themes to think about:
* the
'coming revolution' and the strategic priorities;
* the
dialectic of the formation of proletarian class consciousness. The weight of
trade unionism;
* the
conditionings of the energy system;
* the
spectre of green austerity;
* the
traps of totality.
5. 'Ecologise' our Marxism
- 'Marxise ecology'or 'ecologise Marxism'?
- We have only
missed an appointment! The failure of the Greens. The dead-end of lobbying.
- Build a
strategy around our strong points:
* The
'ecological crisis' is a crisis of society. The law of value, durability and
the principle of caution. Crisis of accumulation and generalised crisis of
bourgeois relations of production (MANDEL). Need for a global alternative:
satisfaction of democratically determined needs.
* The
solution of this crisis does not lie in the valorisation of resources
(interiorisation of costs) but on the contrary in the 'de-commodification'of
them. Land, water, energy, biodiversity/genetic resources, human genome.
* The
mainspring of the capitalist destruction of the environment is inherent in the
very mechanism of production. Struggle against the pillage of resources and
struggle against the exploitation/exhaustion of the labour force are
inseparable and mutually condition each other.
* In the
last resort every economy comes down to an economy of time. Reduction in
working hours and respect for ecological time. Ecology of work, health and
security. Ecological responsibility of the workers' movement. New themes for
workers' control, 'school of self-management '.
Some challenges to be taken up:
* Develop
our scientific knowledge. Biology, chemistry, physics, medicine. Establish
links with scientists.
* In
particular, develop our mastery of the energy question. Energy and development.
Energy and social, spatial organisation. Energy and capitalist waste ( military
spending, transport, advertising, etc.).
* Develop
our knowledge of the policies that are implemented (Kyoto, Montréal, CITES,
Earth Summit, etc.) and integrate it into our criticism of bourgeois policies,
of inter-imperialist rivalry, North-South relations, etc.
* Develop
precise political lines and demands on concrete questions. Intervene
politically/practically around campaigns. Establish links with specific
associations and movements.
* Be alert and attentive to the development of
capital in the key sectors from the point of view of the exploitation of
nature: forestry, mines, agriculture, genetic patrimony (and not only its
development in the sectors that are key from the point of view of the
exploitation of labour). Establish the link with other questions (for example,
the rights of indigenous peoples).
* Organise a division of labour within our
organisations to take up these challenges.
- Proposition: form a network on the level of the F.I.
Contribute to proposing a 'transitional programme towards a sustainable
society' to intervene in the central question: energy, climatic change and
development.