🌿 ECOLOGISM – Quick Notes

Explore the core ideas of Ecologism, a political ideology focused on environmental protection and radical system change. Perfect for Political Science and UGC NET revision!

✅ 1. Definition

• Ecologism is a political ideology that emphasizes the intrinsic value of the natural world.
• It demands radical change in political, economic, and social systems to respect ecological limits.

✅ 2. Core Features

• Ecocentrism: Nature has intrinsic value, not just instrumental value for humans.
• Holism: Nature is a complex, interconnected system.
• Sustainability: Development must not compromise the needs of future generations.
• Environmental Ethics: Moral consideration for non-human entities and future life.
• Post-Materialism: Shift from consumerist/materialist values to quality of life and ecological harmony.

✅ 3. Key Concepts

• Anthropocentrism: Human-centered worldview—criticized by ecologism.
• Biocentrism: Life-centered ethics—all living beings deserve moral consideration.
• Gaia Hypothesis: Earth is a self-regulating, living organism (James Lovelock).
• Carrying Capacity: Earth's limited ability to support human consumption and growth.
• Steady-State Economy: Advocated by Herman Daly; sustainable and non-growing economy.

✅ 4. Shallow vs Deep Ecology

Feature	Shallow Ecology	Deep Ecology
Philosophy	Anthropocentric	Ecocentric/Biocentric
Ethical Focus	Human interest (health, resources)	Intrinsic value of all life
Scope	Reformist	Radical/systemic
Key Thinker	Anthony Weston	Arne Naess
Goal	Sustainable development	Harmony with nature; reduced human impact

✅ 5. Types of Ecologism

• 🔹 Eco-Socialism
  • Merges ecological concerns with socialism.
  • Critiques capitalism for commodifying nature.
  • Key Thinkers: Rudolf Bahro, Joel Kovel.
• 🔹 Eco-Anarchism
  • Advocates decentralization, localism, direct democracy.
  • Critiques state and hierarchy.
  • Key Thinker: Murray Bookchin – Social Ecology.
• 🔹 Eco-Feminism
  • Links exploitation of nature with oppression of women.
  • Patriarchy and domination are twin sources of ecological crisis.
  • Key Thinkers: Carolyn Merchant, Vandana Shiva, Mary Daly.
• 🔹 Deep Ecology
  • Radical philosophy valuing all life forms equally.
  • Calls for profound lifestyle changes.
  • Key Thinker: Arne Naess – Ecosophy.

✅ 6. Key Thinkers & Works

Thinker	Contribution / Work
Rachel Carson	Silent Spring (1962) – warned against pesticides.
Arne Naess	Ecology, Community, and Lifestyle – coined Deep Ecology.
James Lovelock	Gaia Hypothesis – Earth as a living being.
Murray Bookchin	Ecology of Freedom – founder of social ecology.
E.F. Schumacher	Small is Beautiful – Buddhist economics.
Rudolf Bahro	From Red to Green – eco-socialist critique.
Carolyn Merchant	The Death of Nature – ecofeminist critique of science.

✅ 7. Political Impact

• Rise of Green Parties globally (Germany, Australia, etc.).
• Influence on Environmental Movements (e.g., Chipko, Fridays for Future).
• Pressure on global governance: UNFCCC, Paris Agreement, SDGs.

✅ 8. Criticisms

• Accused of being utopian, anti-development, and anti-technology.
• Conflict with liberal individualism and economic growth models.
• Radical forms seen as impractical in global capitalist order.

Ecologism continues to highlight the critical interdependence between humanity and the natural world, driving global environmental discourse.