Natural causes, uncertain consequences?: some critical comments on James O'Connor's Ecological Marxism

This paper critically examines James O'Connor's ecological Marxism, particularly his "second contradiction of capitalism" thesis, as outlined in Natural Causes: Essays in Ecological Marxism (1998). O'Connor argues that capitalism's drive for accumulation leads to environmental degradation, undermining the very conditions necessary for continued production. The paper outlines O'Connor's three major contributions: expanding historical materialism to integrate ecological concerns, articulating the systemic contradictions between capitalism and nature, and proposing a coalition between Marxists and environmental movements. The paper then critiques O'Connor's epistemological assumptions, the theoretical coherence of his value theory revisions, and the determinism underlying his eco-socialist vision. This highlights tensions between O'Connor's abstract theoretical framework and the empirical realities of contemporary environmental movements, questioning the inevitability of crisis-driven transformation. Ultimately, the paper suggests that while O'Connor's framework offers a compelling synthesis of Marxist and ecological thought, its assumptions and political conclusions warrant further scrutiny.