Christoph Goerg, UFZ-Leipzig

1. Ecological Imperialism – a new level in the Domination of NaturePostfordist Relationships with Nature and Adornos Theory of Non-Identity Christoph Goerg, UFZ-Leipzig

2. Theses: • There is a need for a broader understanding of the role of societal relationships with nature in history • critical theory of Theodor W. Adorno • Recent forms of ecological imperialism are connected not only with growing global domination and violence, but also with technical, juridical and practical measures directed towards the domination of nature • postfordist relationships with nature Christoph Goerg CNS-Anniv.Conf. Toronto 2005

3. Ecological Imperialism Empire/Imperialism requires rethinking of conventional environmental politics (regarding regime-formation/ cooperation) • appropriation of natural resources for capitalist accumulation • power relations: undermining traditional patterns of resource use • global forms of domination, inscribed in International Institutions and Organizations (WTO, WB etc.) • violence and war as a measure of domination and as a symptom of social crises • end of cooperative strategies? • linear tendency towards (self-)destruction? Christoph Goerg CNS-Anniv.Conf. Toronto 2005

4. Neo-Imperialism – an end to neoliberalism? • Unilateralism and war – indicators for an end of multilateral, neoliberal Globalization? • Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) from the beginning shaped by the interests of dominant national states • changing strategies of the US-Government • struggles about International Regulation between dominant states and at the same time a need for defending their common interest • competition-cooperation paradox • Environmental action possible under capitalist conditions • rethinking global institutional regulations • rethinking the role of nature in history Christoph Goerg CNS-Anniv.Conf. Toronto 2005

5. Societal relationships with nature (1) following Adorno: • interconnections between society and nature are constitutive for each of them • at the same time society and nature are non-identical with each other – dialectical relationships in a strict sense • mediation between them through a historical process of the “dialectic of enlightenment” – growing domination of nature and its failure (for both: nature and society) • does not mean: to get really control over nature • subsumption under capitalist conditions (“Inwertsetzung” – valorization) Christoph Goerg CNS-Anniv.Conf. Toronto 2005

6. Societal relationships with nature (2) recent experiences: • subsumption neglects the “non-identity of nature” – ecological risks, costs, uncertainty, insecurity, etc. • modern version of the “revolt of nature” – “nature strikes back” • preventive action to avoid/minimize risks and costs • trying to enhance control over nature in a reflexive way: respect uncertainty to reinforce subsumption • “ecological modernization” as a new step in the “dialectic of enlightenment” • reflexive domination of nature in Postfordism Christoph Goerg CNS-Anniv.Conf. Toronto 2005

7. Conflicts: about the meaning of ecological problems about the shaping of livelihood conditions and nutrients at global, national and local level conflicts in shaping societal relationships with nature Contradictions: subsumption creates new dependency valorization and costs: not per se rational (for capitalism) control and risks: return of “non-dominated” nature growing uncertainty, insecurity and dependency Postfordist relationships with natureContradictions and contestations: Christoph Goerg CNS-Anniv.Conf. Toronto 2005

8. Example: Genetic resources and the loss of Biodiversity • inextricable mix of • global environmental problem • international distributional conflict about economic valuable resources • local livelihood conditions (regarding agriculture, health etc.) • Convention on Biological Diversity: • not an efficient instrument for species protection/nature conservation • weak instrument, dominated by other agreements (i.p. WTO-TRIPS) and strong national governments (USA) • neoliberal strategies inscribed – not only external clash with WTO-TRIPS • insufficient action against the loss of BD • reinforces valorization Christoph Goerg CNS-Anniv.Conf. Toronto 2005

9. Conflict structures in Biodiv Governance national dimension(National Governments vs local communities/Indigenous Peoples) global-local dimension(global discourses vs localmanagement strategies) north-south dimension(High-Tech- vs Megadiv-countries) stakeholders(business, environmental NGOs, social movements etc) Sectoral dimension(trade liberalisation, agriculture and environmental issues) Christoph Goerg CNS-Anniv.Conf. Toronto 2005

10. Lessons from Biodiversity politics: • Biodiversity/genetic resources subsumed under capitalist/neoliberal strategies (valorization) • not only an economical, but also a scientific and technical process • ignores non-identity and therefore produces risk and destruction • cooperative environmental politics important and functional for neoimperialism • Imperialist strategies not only exercised by means of violence and war, but also through scientists, lawyers, NGOs and others • contested: resistance on all levels - scientific struggles, alternative PR-interpretations, self-organization of weaker actors, etc. • new level in the subsumption = domination of nature Christoph Goerg CNS-Anniv.Conf. Toronto 2005

11. Conclusions: • institutions matter – historical phases, no linear development • no absolute power – conflicts and resistance inscribed in national states and international institutions • not necessarily self-destructive – environmental action possible under capitalist/neo-imperialist conditions • highly selective – subsumption of nature, neglecting non-identity and producing new risk/dangers • no hope regarding the acknowledgement of the “Non-Identity of Nature” • “dialectic of enlightenment” ongoing Christoph Goerg CNS-Anniv.Conf. Toronto 2005