NATURE, GEOPOLITICS AND MARXISM - ECOLOGICAL CONTESTATIONS IN WEIMAR GERMANY

The current debate about Marxism and ecology raises the problem of nat ure and its relationship to human society in Marxist theory. This essa y examines these questions as they were considered and contested in th e Marxist literature of Germany in the 1920s. It is suggested that at this time the 'consensus' perspective characteristic of Marxism before 1914 was challenged as different tendencies pushed it in very differe nt directions. Ecological connections and environmental influences wer e stressed to the point of trying to develop a determinist Marxist geo politics, whilst the anthropocentric and Promethean element in Marxism was stressed to the point that nature was denied any sort of independ ent status whatsoever and its immanent and definitive 'conquest' by so cialist society confidently foretold. Criticizing both perspectives, K arl Wittfogel offered his own version of the 'correct' Marxist interpr etation of these questions. None of these efforts could be sustained b ut they stand as an indication of the essential pluralism of Marxist d octrine on this question.