2: The Production of Nature

Question 1

Key components of the production of nature (?;?)

Answer 1

Smith 1991
Capitalist/commodified 2nd natures are produced from 1st nature through the labour process
Involves a dialectical relationship between nature and society

Question 2

Overcoming the seed problem (?;?)

Answer 2

Castree 2001
Seeds self-reproducing = physical obstacle to capitalist development
= Monsanto - terminator technology etc.

Question 3

Nature as an accumulation strategy (?;?)

Answer 3

Smith 2006
Domination of nature = aim of science in capitalist society
E.g.s = US wetland credits, deft-for-nature swaps, environmental derivatives markets
Negatives of marketisation = uneven development and poverty & it doesn’t necessarily work - increased poverty = increased environmental degradation
Formal subsumption = capital accumulation from conversion of extracted material into objects of production
Real subsumption = Nature circulates as commodities and financially as financial objects = loses its specificity

Question 4

2 contradictions of capitalism

Answer 4

Destroys its own labour force through tech and exploitation = eliminates its own market
Destroys the material conditions for production = the environment

Question 5

Debate over nature as fixed and imposing limits

Answer 5

Malthus and the The Limits to Growth
And Hardin 1974 - if all had our standard of living it would increase pollution; so we shouldn’t encourage rising standards among the poor
Vs. Harvey - limits aren’t natural or fixed; they’re socially produced through wealth distribution