Expansionism

Abstract

If our interpretation of neo-Malthusianism is correct, it is not theoretically adverse to its most antagonistic opponent, namely expansionism. Its roots in liberal Hobbesian anthropology bring it into close theoretical proximity to expansionism as it, too, is essentially a liberal Hobbesian theory of human nature and society. Expansionism as expounded by R. Buckminster Fuller, John Maddox, Wilfred Beckerman, and Herman Kahn is not a current of thought normally associated with ecological theory except as a vehement critique of ecological theory in general and neo-Malthusianism in particular. The themes of ecology, environment, natural resources figure very prominently in the writings of these authors although not from a sense of urgency to save them from imminent collapse as is the case of neo-Malthusianism. The basic general argument is that the present form of economic expansion poses no threat to the viability of the environment but, on the contrary, contains the key to the solution of any environmentally related problems however and whenever they may arise.