The traditions of Ecologism
Each tradition answers the same spec questions differently. Learn the split and you can compare them in an essay.
Deep Ecology (Deep Greens)
Leopold (the Land Ethic); Naess; Schumacher and Merchant cross-strand
- Biocentric / ecocentric; reject anthropocentrism completely; intrinsic value of nature; transformation of human consciousness
Shallow Ecology (Shallow Greens)
Carson (Silent Spring, enlightened anthropocentrism)
- Enlightened anthropocentrism; humans as stewards of nature; reform-based change of values
Social Ecology (umbrella)
Bookchin (libertarian municipalism); covers Eco-Socialism, Eco-Anarchism and Eco-Feminism
- Reject both anthropocentrism and ecocentrism; root cause is human-on-human hierarchy; humans uniquely capable of moral reasoning
Eco-Socialism
Bookchin in places; cross-pollinated with Marx; capitalism as the engine of ecological crisis
- Capitalism shapes human nature; humans alienated from nature by industrial production; class-based view of who can fix it
Eco-Anarchism
Bookchin (libertarian municipalism); Schumacher (Small is Beautiful)
- Humans naturally cooperative when free of hierarchy; mutual aid; dialectic with nature
Eco-Feminism
Merchant (the death of nature); links the domination of nature to the domination of women
- Domination of nature linked to domination of women; mechanistic worldview; reclaiming connection between people and nature
Side by side
The four core spec areas across every tradition.
| Theme | Deep Ecology | Shallow Ecology | Social Ecology | Eco-Socialism | Eco-Anarchism | Eco-Feminism |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Nature | Biocentric / ecocentric; reject anthropocentrism completely; intrinsic value of nature; transformation of human consciousness | Enlightened anthropocentrism; humans as stewards of nature; reform-based change of values | Reject both anthropocentrism and ecocentrism; root cause is human-on-human hierarchy; humans uniquely capable of moral reasoning | Capitalism shapes human nature; humans alienated from nature by industrial production; class-based view of who can fix it | Humans naturally cooperative when free of hierarchy; mutual aid; dialectic with nature | Domination of nature linked to domination of women; mechanistic worldview; reclaiming connection between people and nature |
| The State | Existing state rooted in anthropocentrism; reject; some advocate decentralised eco-communalist forms | Existing state can be reformed; green capitalism, managerialism, regulation, sustainable development | State is hierarchical and coercive; replace with decentralised bioregional communes; libertarian municipalism | State currently captured by capital; revolutionary or radical reform; democratic public ownership of energy, land and key industries | State as hierarchy; abolish; bioregional communes; libertarian municipalism; direct democracy | State as patriarchal and extractive; transform or replace; decentralised forms that value care and reproduction |
| The Economy | Zero growth or degrowth; steady-state economy; reject capitalism; strong sustainability | Capitalism is compatible with ecologism; smarter, slower, greener growth; weak sustainability; technology | Reject capitalism and industrialism; small-scale local production for use; common ownership; mutual aid | Capitalism as root of ecological crisis; common ownership; democratic green planning; reject growth as the goal | Small-scale local production; common ownership; mutual aid; no state planning; no accumulation-driven markets | Capitalism + patriarchy as twin engines of extraction; revalue caring and reproductive labour; small-scale localism |
| Society | Ecocentric, holistic; reject mechanistic world view; small-scale, simple; spiritual transformation | Limited holism; reform-based change of values; green consumerism; renewable energy and recycling | Decentralised bioregional communes; reject hierarchy in all forms; direct democracy; mutual aid | Class as the deepest divide; ecological crisis intertwined with capitalist exploitation; collective democratic transformation | Reject hierarchy in all forms; bioregional communes; mutual aid; voluntary association; direct democracy | End the linked domination of women and nature; revalue the feminine principle; holistic, communal, ecologically careful society |