Ecosocialism

Ecosocialism is a political movement and intellectual current that seeks to fuse ecological concerns with socialist analysis. Proponents argue that the modern ecological crisis is inseparable from capitalism’s structure—its drive for relentless growth, resource extraction, and commodification of nature. The goal is a society organized around democratic planning, social ownership of essential means of production, and policies aimed at ecological justice and long-term sustainability.

The idea arose from late 20th-century critiques of capitalism and ecology. Notable scholars associated with ecosocialism include Joel Kovel, Michael Löwy, and Ian Angus, whose writings helped articulate the fusion of ecological and socialist critique. The movement has various strands—democratic eco-socialism, ecofeminism, and eco-anarchism—sharing the core claim that environmental crisis requires structural social change rather than technocratic fixes.

Core concepts emphasize that capitalism structurally enacts ecological harm through externalized costs and power concentration. Ecosocialists argue for public or cooperative ownership of key sectors such as energy, land, and water, paired with democratic planning and a rapid transition to renewable energy. They stress just transitions that protect workers and communities, defend Indigenous rights, and prioritize reducing inequality and consumption in ways compatible with ecological limits and long-term resilience.

Policy debates within ecosocialism involve the design of democratic, participatory planning, the balance between public ownership and local commons, and the role of degrowth or steady-state approaches. Critics caution that ecosocialism may risk technocracy or inefficiency if not democratically controlled, while proponents argue that an ecologically sustainable future requires sweeping social transformation beyond market solutions.