Revisiting Connections Between Capital and Nature I: The Importance of Labour. Issue 1 (2nd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Somerville, Peter
• Is Part Of: Capitalism, nature, socialism. Volume 32:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 56
• Page End: 67
• Publication Date: 2021-01-02
• Subjects: Value -- capital -- nature -- labour; Economic development -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Socialism -- Periodicals; Capitalism -- Periodicals; 304.205
• DOI: 10.1080/10455752.2020.1797845
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1045-5752

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper reconsiders Marx's theory of capital in the light of more recent discussions of the relationship between capital and nature. It points out how this theory continues to be misrepresented and misunderstood by a number of scholars, and argues that one reason for such failings is a tendency to neglect the role of labour in mediating this relationship. Further, the paper reviews literature relating to the value of nature, primitive accumulation, natural capital and the production of nature, in order to show the importance of the concept of labour and the limitations of approaches that do not recognize that importance.