Debate: should we ally with 'green' capitalists?

“We also have to seriously consider which bits of green capital do we make alliances with, because I don’t think I see the social forces being arranged that we can simply wash our hands of that messy engagement.” 

With that provocative question John Barry of the Just Transition Greens set the cat among the pigeons on an episode of the Trademark podcast on ‘Why Greenwashing won’t wash’. Those serious about fighting climate change and capitalism, he argued, must consider whether we can form alliances with some of the ‘greener’ big businesses, renewable energy companies and the like to achieve our aims. He went on to argue that this is an important strategic debate we cannot shy away from, even if it is ‘as welcome as a fart in a space suit’. 

We at Rupture agree that this is an important debate to be had. With the world burning, and time running out, it is crucially important that we leave no stone unturned in trying to develop strategies to halt this destruction.  But we also cannot afford to go down strategic dead ends, which waste our limited time and energy.

We are delighted to host an initial written roundtable on whether eco-socialists should try to build alliances with green capital with John Barry arguing it's something we should seriously consider and RISE member and regular Rupture contributor Diana O’Dwyer arguing such attempts would weaken rather than strengthen our movement. We carry both pieces here side-by-side, to hopefully kick off further debate and discussion on this and connected strategic questions facing the green-left today. 

- Cian Prendiville, Rupture editorial board

Article originally published in Issue 3 of Rupture, Ireland’s eco-socialist quarterly, buy the print issue:

Rupture 3 (Mná) Digital Download

€5.00

Spring 2021

Special feature, Mná:

• The oppression of women in Ireland, by Megan Dennis

• Ireland & Abortion, by Sinéad Kennedy

• RIse of the new women’s movement, by the Fourth International

• Women’s suppression, a poem by Phil Foster

• Women & nature: towards an ecosocialist feminism, by Jess Spear

Features:

• Colonialism, landlordism, and the rift of Ireland, by Des Henelly

• Storming heaven: 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune, by Nicole McCarthy

• A new pink tide in Latin America? by Michael Coleman

• Jack Mundey: trade union firebrand & pioneering environmentalist, by John Cunningham

What is to be done?

• Debate: Should we ally with ‘green’ capitalists?
  Maybe, by John Barry
  No, by Diana O’Dwyer

• Bringing Kautsky Back? by Cian Prendiville

• RISE joins PBP

• Starting a RISE women’s caucus, by Diana O’Dwyer

• Striking together: Strengthening the climate movement & trade unions, by Nicolas Rother

• The frog at the bottom of the well: Marxism, Marxists, and the national question, by Ciaran Mulholland

Rupture Regulars

• Poking the angry beast: The other carbon problem, by Jess Spear

• Lesser-spotted comrades: Eleanor Marx, by Samantha O’Brien

• Gaslighters, Ghouls, and Gobshites

Purchase