Ecological Crisis And The Agrarian Question In World-historical Perspective
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How the Neoliberal Agro-Ecological Regime Has Failed to Feed the World
The neoliberal agro-ecological regime, which emerged in the late 20th century as a response to the crises of the 1970s, has been based on a global reorganization of agriculture that aimed to increase productivity, profitability and competitiveness of agro-export platforms. This regime has relied on the intensive use of chemical inputs, biotechnology, irrigation, mechanization and market liberalization, as well as the dispossession and marginalization of small-scale farmers and indigenous communities. However, this regime has also generated severe ecological and social consequences, such as soil degradation, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, climate change, food insecurity, rural poverty and social unrest.
In this article, I will argue that the neoliberal agro-ecological regime has exhausted itself and is unable to sustain the world's growing population and industrialization. I will draw on the concept of world-ecological regimes, which are historical configurations of capital accumulation, state power and class struggle that are shaped by and shape the relations between humans and nature. I will trace the emergence and decline of previous world-ecological regimes, such as the colonial plantation complex and the Fordist agro-industrial complex, and show how they were crucial for the expansion and restructuring of world capitalism. I will then analyze the current crisis of the neoliberal agro-ecological regime and its implications for the future of world development.
The Colonial Plantation Complex and the Rise of Capitalism
The first world-ecological regime that I will discuss is the colonial plantation complex, which emerged in the 16th century and lasted until the 19th century. This regime was based on the large-scale production of tropical cash crops, such as sugar, tobacco, coffee and cotton, in the Americas, Africa and Asia by enslaved or coerced laborers. These crops were exported to Europe and other regions to feed the growing demand of urban consumers and industrial manufacturers. The colonial plantation complex was enabled by the conquest and colonization of vast territories by European powers, who imposed their political, economic and cultural domination over indigenous peoples and ecosystems. The colonial plantation complex was also supported by a global network of trade, finance and military force that facilitated the circulation of commodities, capital and labor.
The colonial plantation complex was a key driver of the rise of capitalism as a world system. It generated enormous profits for planters, merchants and financiers, who accumulated wealth and power at the expense of workers, peasants and nature. It also stimulated technological innovations, such as the sugar mill, the cotton gin and the steam engine, that increased productivity and efficiency. It also fostered social transformations, such as urbanization, consumerism and class formation, that shaped modern society. However, the colonial plantation complex also encountered ecological and social limits that undermined its viability. The intensive exploitation of land and labor resulted in soil exhaustion, deforestation, disease outbreaks, famine and resistance movements. The increasing competition among colonial powers led to wars and revolutions that disrupted trade and stability. The rising food prices and social inequalities provoked popular discontent and rebellions that challenged the existing order.
The Fordist Agro-Industrial Complex and the Golden Age of Capitalism
The second world-ecological regime that I will discuss is the Fordist agro-industrial complex, ec8f644aee