Ecology and Historical Materialism [Paperback]

This book presents a systematic challenge to the widely-held view that Marxism is unable to deal with environmental issues.This book presents a systematic challenge to the widely-held view that Marxism is unable to deal adequately with environmental issues. Jonathan Hughes responds to criticisms of Marx's theory of history from environmental theorists, and offers an interpretation and reconstruction of key Marxian concepts, designed to show that the theory need not have harmful ecological consequences. He argues that the communist principle 'to each according to his needs' must rest upon a conception of needs which may be satisfied by a modest and ecologically-feasible expansion of productive output.This book presents a systematic challenge to the widely-held view that Marxism is unable to deal adequately with environmental issues. Jonathan Hughes responds to criticisms of Marx's theory of history from environmental theorists, and offers an interpretation and reconstruction of key Marxian concepts, designed to show that the theory need not have harmful ecological consequences. He argues that the communist principle 'to each according to his needs' must rest upon a conception of needs which may be satisfied by a modest and ecologically-feasible expansion of productive output.This book presents a systematic challenge to the widely-held view that Marxism is unable to deal adequately with environmental issues. Jonathan Hughes responds to criticisms of Marx's theory of history from environmental theorists, and offers an interpretation and reconstruction of key Marxian concepts, designed to show that the theory need not have harmful ecological consequences. He argues that the communist principle to each according to his needs must rest on a conception of needs that may be satisfied by a modest and ecologically-feasible expansion of productive output.Introduction; 1. Ecological problems: definition and evaluation; 2. Marxism and green Malthusians; 3. Marxism and the ecollCk