Green political thoughtauthoritarianism – and continues with those traditions that seek human
emancipation through political, economic and social change – socialism,
feminism, anarchism. It is argued that this second group of ideologies is
closest to ecologism.
◗ Conservatism and neo-liberalism
There seems little in common between ecologism and the neo-liberal and
conservative New Right with its enthusiasm for the market and the defence
of the individual. Indeed, the New Right has been particularly hostile
towards environmentalism (e.g. Ridley 1995 ;seealsoPaehlke 1989 :ch.8;
Rowell 1996 ). Environmentalists are dismissed as ‘doomsayers’ and environ-
mental regulations attacked for constraining free trade. The emergence of
‘free market environmentalism’ (Anderson and Leal 1991 ; Moran et al. 1991 )
reflected less a concern for the environmentper sethan an extension of a
set of economic canons – the hegemony of the market and the sanctity of
property rights – to incorporate a new problem. Environmental problems are
blamed on the ‘Tragedy of the Commons’, which, it is argued, arises from
theabsence of clear, enforceable and tradeable property rights; put differ-
ently, the market solution is to privatise public goods, such as endangered
species. The libertarian notion of justice based on entitlements contrasts
sharply with the green conception of justice based on equity (see Box3.8).
In short, there is nothing that cannot be solved by the market; if there is
an environmental problem, then trust the market to sort it out.^9
Traditional conservative writing, although less overtly hostile, has also
been critical of environmentalism: quick to condemn greens as dangerous
radicals or socialists in disguise. Typically, green parties are compared to a
watermelon: ‘green on the outside; red on the inside’. Yet there are many
similarities between traditional conservatism and green principles (Pilbeam
2003 ; Scruton 2006 ). Both share a deep suspicion of Enlightenment ideas of
progress and rationality, whilst drawing comfort from Romantic and nos-
talgic visions of a pre-industrial past. The principle of conservation – com-
mon to both doctrines – represents a desire to protect our historical inheri-
tance and maintain the existing order for ourselves and for our descendants.
As Scruton ( 2006 )observes, ‘Conservatism and conservation are in fact two
aspects of a single long term policy, which is that of husbanding resources’
(p. 8), by which he means social, material and economic capital. The conser-
vative philosopher Edmund Burke stressed the importance of partnership
between past, present and future generations. This idea informs the con-
servative notion of ‘stewardship’ – holding land in trust for the next gen-
eration and for the wider nation – which has something in common with
future-generation arguments. Both doctrines display respect for stability and
tradition. Change, where necessary, should involve organic, gradual adapta-
tion, not revolution. The green ‘precautionary principle’ resonates with the
conservative scepticism about radical technical or social experimentation.