Lesson Plan: Marxist Theories and Climate Change

Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.

Step 1: Topic introduction and discussion 

1. Use the brief write-up, ‘What is Marx’s Das Kapital?’ by Brian Wheeler for BBC, to introduce the topic of Marxist Theory of Capitalism.
2. Use the reading to describe the socio-political circumstances of when the Das Kapital was written, the essential ideas promulgated by it, and how the historical context of the Marxist Theory of Capitalism has evolved over time.

This reading can be accessed here.

1. Use the reading, ‘Karl Marx’ by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, to describe the socio-political contexts in Karl Marx’s biography and to initiate a discussion about his written works.
2. Use the sub-sections to summarize the Marxist ideologies in his early writings, about economics, the theory of history, and the morality in his works.
3. Finally, encourage your students to debate the juxtaposition of his ideas about capitalism and communism.

This reading can be accessed here.

Step 2: Extend understanding

1. Use the video lecture, ‘Marx’s Theory of Capitalism’ by Prof Shapiro, Yale University, to explain the basis of Marx’s theory of Capitalism around what defines value and how wealth can be created.
2. Explain how this can be viewed from both a micro and macro socio-economic standpoint.
3. Use the video lecture to describe Marx’s definition of a working class and modes of production.
4. Explain the differences in class-in-itself and class-for-itself in capitalist society.
5. Use the lecture to elaborate on the use of both human and non-human resources, and necessary and surplus labor time, in capitalism.
6. Note: This video lecture is the first of two lectures that describe Marx’s ideologies of Capitalism and Historical Materialism. This lecture is available to download in audio and video formats, has downloadable lecture notes and suggestions for assignments to enhance learning.

This video lecture is available here.

Step 3: Discuss further

1. Use the video interview, ‘Marxist theory: Relevant to climate change today?’ by Prof Graham Murdock, Loughborough University, UK, to discuss the impact of capitalism on climate change.
2. Draw attention to Marx’s commentary on the breakdown of the relationship of humans with nature due the industrialization of agricultural practices.
3. Further, discuss how Marx’s analysis on ecology could also provide the solutions to problems in the context of climate change.

This video can be accessed here.

Step 4: Assignment and Classroom Discussion

1. Carbon markets are important for the global efforts to address climate change. Use the paper ‘Greening Capitalism? A Marxist Critique of Carbon Markets’ by Steffen Böhm et al, Organization Studies (2012) to evaluate carbon markets.
2. Begin by explaining that the paper reviews four Marxist concepts- metabolic rift; capitalism as world ecology; uneven development and accumulation through dispossession; and sub-imperialism for this analyzing carbon markets.
3. Instruct your students to read the research paper and summarize it in an in-class discussion.
4. Use the article’s references to introduce the concept of ‘climate capitalism’.
5. Finally, initiate a debate on how carbon markets could affect capitalist dynamics to achieve a sustainable global economy.

This research paper is made available by the author here.

Suggested questions/assignments for learning evaluation :

1. What are Marx’s main tenets about Capitalism?
2. What are Marx’s fundamental problems with Capitalism?
3. What were Marx’s ideas to reform Capitalism?
4. Does Marxist theory support carbon markets and the greening of Capitalism?

The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:

1. learn about Karl Marx’s life and works
2. understand the Marxist theory of Capitalism
3. describe the historical development of the Marxist theory of Capitalism
4. explain the impact of capitalism on climate change
5. discuss how carbon markets influence Capitalism

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