The History of Environmental Degradation Lies in Social Hierarchy and Capitalism

After the left-resurgence in Europe following the elections in Germany, UK and France, its evident that green politics are slowly gaining acceptance as people are understanding the threatful effects of environmental degradation and its crisis. World leaders, since the 1992 Rio Summit has vowed to reduce down its carbon emissions, followed by the dictum of “common but differentiated responsibilities”, ushering true environmentalism transcends much more than just advocating energy sources from renewable resources and the banning of non-biodegradable wastes, especially plastics. True environmentalism begins by opposing social hierarchy and capitalism as Murray Bookchin, a prominent eco-anarchist, in his “Social Ecology” established direct links of environmental degradation with them.

The Roots of Social Hierarchy in Environmental Degradation

At first glance, this may seem weird, but historical social hierarchy- namely patriarchy (rule of man) and gerontocracy (rule of the elder) has direct links with ecological crisis. Patriarchy emerged after gerontocracy, with male dominance increasing through civil responsibilities and technological changes like plow agriculture. 

This led to male elites dominating not only women but also other men. Hierarchy developed due to age infirmities, population growth, natural disasters, technological shifts, and warfare, which enhanced male status. Hierarchy is different from class exploitation; it involves coercive ranks beyond economic relationships. Chiefs often gained respect by generosity, unlike class rulers who used wealth and coercion. With the rise of hierarchy, humans began to see nature as something separate and controllable.

Initially, magical practices in these societies were about pleading with spirits for assistance. Over time, these practices became more about coercing nature, reflecting a growing hierarchical view of the world. This shift mirrored the development of human domination over each other, leading to a hierarchical structuring of society and nature.

The biblical idea of humans having dominion over nature is an expression of social hierarchy. True ecological harmony can only be achieved by dismantling these social hierarchies and creating institutions that promote equality and respect for nature.

Historically, the idea of dominating nature has been present in hierarchical societies, as seen in ancient texts like the Gilgamesh epic and the Odyssey. These societies caused significant environmental damage long before the rise of modern science and industry. Therefore, the future of humanity is tied to the future of the nonhuman world. The harmful impact of hierarchical and class societies on nature is paralleled by their harm to humanity.

Despite these hierarchies, customs like mutual aid and shared resources persisted throughout history, often resurfacing in popular uprisings. These values were never fully eradicated, even in the face of oppression, and were preserved in various forms of community life. Ancient Greek philosophy and medieval guilds also promoted modest, balanced living, slowing technological progress to integrate new production methods sustainably.

“Grow or Die”: The Exploitative Competitiveness of Capitalism

It is by no doubt by now that how capitalism has historically engaged itself in exploitation of human beings, as unequal wage rates between men and women, making laborers work in hazardous areas and creation of unequal wealth distribution derives directly from capitalism. Apart from this, capitalism has equally exploited the environment as capitalism and the society are incompatible to each other- mutually destructive.

“Capitalist production, therefore, only develops the techniques and the degree of combination of the social process of production by simultaneously undermining the original sources of all wealth – the soil and the worker.”

Karl Marx (Capital Vol.1)

It’s crucial to recognize that industrial growth isn’t solely driven by cultural changes or scientific advancements. Instead, it’s largely driven by the harsh realities of the expanding market, which often ignores moral considerations. The capitalist marketplace’s fierce competition forces businesses to grow or risk being outcompeted. While greed can motivate, the primary driver is survival, necessitating constant expansion and profit-seeking.

Well-meaning ecology theorists often reduce the ecological crisis to a cultural issue, overlooking the social dynamics at play. Even an ecologically conscious entrepreneur faces a competitive disadvantage against those who ignore ecological guidelines to produce cheaper goods. Thus, the marketplace favors the unscrupulous.

Environmental movements that focus on personal lifestyle changes and moralizing about societal faults can distract from the need for significant social change. Corporations exploit this by promoting superficial eco-friendly messages, masking their environmental impact. For example, companies like Mercedes-Benz and major polluters in the U.S. use green marketing to appear environmentally responsible without making substantial changes.

Social ecology emphasizes that while moral and spiritual renewal is important, modern capitalism is inherently amoral and driven by profit and growth imperatives. Ethical appeals have little impact in this environment. The relentless focus on growth has a devastating effect on the environment, regardless of population size. Capitalism drives overconsumption and military expansion, causing ecological harm.

Historical examples show that technological advancements accelerated environmental destruction, but the underlying cause is the market system’s expansion. This system, rooted in exchange rather than mutual aid, has led to significant ecological damage over centuries.

Also Read: “True Left Alternative”: The Greens Quadrupled their Seats, from 1 to 4

The Hoax of “Eco-Capitalism”

The question of ecology and environmentalism has been covered by every mainstream ideologies- from far-left (anarchism) to far-right (fascism). Eco-feminism tries to explain the even worse effects of climate change on women. Even after being a destructive ideology, the capitalist have tried to place capitalism over green politics.

In reality, green capitalism is just a paradoxical term as the capitalism endorsed individualism and competitiveness can never usher any ecological cause. The eco-capitalists generally endorse production through renewable sources of energy. But there’s the twist. Setting a plant of renewable energy (be it solar panel or hydro-power plants) requires a huge amount of money which is generally unaffordable for “developing” Global South in a large-scale. This includes replacing petrol/diesel run cars with electric-run luxurious cars, which are again inaccessible for a large portion of the Global South. 

The Global South, being more exposed to climate change, will find in more difficult to bring about true measures of climate change mitigation if the hoax idea of “eco-capitalism” is universalised.