Metabolic Rifts and Restoration: Agricultural Crises and the Potential of Cuba&apos;s Organic, Socialist Approach to Food Production

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World Review of Political Economy

Volume 6, Issue 1

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Abstract: found
Article: found

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Metabolic Rifts and Restoration: Agricultural Crises and the Potential of Cuba's Organic, Socialist Approach to Food Production

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research-article

Author(s): Rebecca Clausen , Brett Clark , Stefano B. Longo

Publication date (Print): Spring 2015

Journal: World Review of Political Economy

Publisher: Pluto Journals

Keywords: Marx, metabolism, capitalism, socialism, agriculture, Cuba, organic, environment, ecology, sustainability

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Abstract

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (doi): 10.13169

Journal ID (publisher-id): worlrevipoliecon

Title: World Review of Political Economy

Publisher: Pluto Journals

ISSN (Print): 2042891X

ISSN (Electronic): 20428928

Publication date (Print): Spring 2015

Volume: 6

Issue: 1

Pages: 4-32

Article

Publisher ID: worlrevipoliecon.6.1.0004

DOI: 10.13169/worlrevipoliecon.6.1.0004

SO-VID: d1f698a5-bc5b-4586-ac6d-0f40a8dba6dc

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History

Notes

While a complete understanding of soil science was not available at the time of Marx's writing, he was “mostly correct in claiming that soil fertility is historically contingent” (Schneider and McMichael 2010, 469).
Metabolic analysis has been used to study an array of environmental problems, such as global climate change (Clark and York 2005), the collapse of oceanic fish stocks (Clausen and Clark 2005; Longo 2012), livestock agribusiness (Gunderson 2011), and the rupture in the nitrogen cycle (Mancus 2007).
The discussion that follows is a greatly expanded and reconceived engagement of an analysis first developed by Clausen (2007).
From personal communication on November 28, 2006.
It should be pointed out that Cuba's commitment to agroecology is not simply an emergency response to the Special Period. Levins (2005) explains that it is rooted in the ongoing transformations of Cuban society since the revolution, the history of colonial science, and a position of anti-imperialism. Furthermore, science operates for public welfare and human development, rather than profit. In this, it is able to address ecological concerns rather than being constrained by the logic of capital.
From personal communication with Mildrey Soca Perez on December 1, 2006.
From personal communication with Juan Leon on November 27, 2006.
From personal communication.

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] While a complete understanding of soil science was not available at the time of Marx's writing, he was “mostly correct in claiming that soil fertility is historically contingent” (Schneider and McMichael 2010, 469).

[2] Metabolic analysis has been used to study an array of environmental problems, such as global climate change (Clark and York 2005), the collapse of oceanic fish stocks (Clausen and Clark 2005; Longo 2012), livestock agribusiness (Gunderson 2011), and the rupture in the nitrogen cycle (Mancus 2007).

[3] The discussion that follows is a greatly expanded and reconceived engagement of an analysis first developed by Clausen (2007).

[4] From personal communication on November 28, 2006.

[5] It should be pointed out that Cuba's commitment to agroecology is not simply an emergency response to the Special Period. Levins (2005) explains that it is rooted in the ongoing transformations of Cuban society since the revolution, the history of colonial science, and a position of anti-imperialism. Furthermore, science operates for public welfare and human development, rather than profit. In this, it is able to address ecological concerns rather than being constrained by the logic of capital.

[6] From personal communication with Mildrey Soca Perez on December 1, 2006.

[7] From personal communication with Juan Leon on November 27, 2006.

[8] From personal communication.