There are better books by the same author

"Ecology against Capitalism" is a collection of 12 essays written by John Bellamy Foster, current editor of the Monthly Review, an independent socialist publication founded by Paul Sweezy. Foster is the author of several books on the ecological crisis from a Green Marxist perspective. He believes that capitalism's "accumulation for accumulation's sake" makes it incompatible with environmentalist politics (not to mention the environment!), and that any effective Green political action must therefore be anti-capitalist and socialist.

Foster further believes that a socialist society must exist in harmony with nature. He mentions (non-socialist) Aldo Leopold's land ethic in a positive light, and seems favourably disposed to the Romantic socialist William Morris. The author discusses Jevon's paradox and seems to accept that the paradox is real (increased energy conservation always leads to *increased* energy consumption, rather than the reverse). There are only two ways around the paradox: a lower level of technology than today, and/or a centralized planned economy. Presumably, the author wants both. Bellamy Foster also criticizes "sustainable development", a concept he regards as simply another form of accumulation for accumulation's sake.

As I pointed out in a critical review of Foster's "The Ecological Revolution", it's virtually impossible to combine Marxism as usually understood with Green politics. Marxism is pro-growth. Indeed, it's main argument against capitalism is that it supposedly hampers further economic growth. Marx would have looked upon Bellamy Foster as a "petty-bourgeois socialist". I also noticed that Foster supports economic growth and development in the Third World. He doesn't explain how the introduction of Green Romantic socialism in Europe and North America will increase growth in the Third World (it would rather make the world market collapse!) or what level of development he deems acceptable. In one article, he points out that South Korea's rapid economic growth has led to serious environmental damage, Seoul being one of the most polluted capitals in Asia. Presumably, being a Newly Industrialized Country is therefore a no-no. In "The Ecological Revolution", Foster expresses support for Cuba, Bolivia and Venezuela. But Cuba and Bolivia have very little economic growth, while the growth of Venezuela is dependent on selling oil to Europe, North America and NICs. But in a Romantic Green world, nobody would be interested in buying oil...

However, my main objection to "Ecology against Capitalism" is simply that the book is immensely boring and not very useful. Only two articles strike me as interesting: "The Limits of Environmentalism without Class: Lessons from the Ancient Forest Struggle in the Pacific Northwest" and "Malthus's Essays on Population at Age 200". Otherwise, I think people interested in Green Marxism should read "The Ecological Revolution", and perhaps "Marx's Ecology" if they crave a more theoretical approach. And my critical review of the former. ;-)