Millennials Are Killing Capitalism cover image

Millennials Are Killing Capitalism

Substance Fetishism or Historical Materialism With Jason W. Moore

Nov 8, 2024
In a compelling discussion, Jason W. Moore, a historical geographer from Binghamton University, tackles the troubling notion of 'substance fetishism' in Marxian theory. He critiques how this perspective can obscure the real issues of labor relations and environmental dynamics. Moore explores the ties between fossil fuel consumption, class dynamics, and imperialism, advocating for a more integrated approach to socioecological crises. He emphasizes the importance of cooperation in both historical socialist movements and contemporary social activism, underscoring a need for revolutionary change driven by historical materialism.
01:06:20

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The critique of substance fetishism emphasizes the need to revolutionize labor relations rather than merely managing natural resources for societal progress.
  • Neo-Malthusian perspectives often distract from ecological understanding by ignoring the underlying class dynamics that create ecological crises and inequalities.

Deep dives

Understanding Substance Fetishism

Substance fetishism refers to the belief that elements of the natural world, such as resources and human populations, have an intrinsic existence independent of labor relations. This perspective is seen as a deviation from historical materialism, which emphasizes that substances are outcomes of social relations and labor dynamics. The focus on managing these substances often detracts from the need to revolutionize labor relations, leading to misguided political actions that prioritize substances, like fossil fuels, instead of addressing the power structures of capitalism. This shift in focus can perpetuate harmful ideologies and distract from the broader class struggles that are essential for meaningful social change.

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