The framework offered by Jason Moore analyzes the co-constitutive relationship between capitalism and the environment. This perspective rejects the Cartesian dualism that separates nature and society, instead positing a unified “world-ecology.” This approach emphasizes how capitalist development is inextricably linked to the appropriation and exploitation of both human and extra-human natures. Examples include the historical enclosure of common lands and the ongoing extraction of natural resources, both essential for capital accumulation.
This theoretical lens provides a valuable framework for understanding the ecological crises facing the planet. It highlights how capitalism’s inherent drive for profit and expansion necessitates the constant search for cheap labor, food, energy, and raw materials, leading to environmental degradation. Understanding the historical roots of this relationship allows for a more nuanced analysis of contemporary environmental challenges and potential solutions that address the systemic drivers of ecological destruction.
