Kahn's Piece of Work

"It is predicated first and foremost by competition and growth, a predatory survival of the fittest approach to life in which "fittest" means most mighty and therefore able to grow further and out-compete rivals" (2)

This quote comes from Towards Ecopedagogy, a treatise written by Richard Kahn of Antioch University in Los Angeles.  Here, "It" refers to capitalism.  Kahn is a Marxist, so his anti-Capitalism stance is expected.  Kahn, while dense throughout much of his paper, could not have made his meaning clearer in this case.  Capitalism thrives on “competition and growth,” requires these conditions for survival.  A stagnant capitalist society cannot exist.  It is a predatory economic model by nature, asking followers to blindly consume others in order to progress.  Destruction of rivals is a necessary part of the system.  The “most fit” individual in a capitalist society is the one who can, “grow further and out-compete rivals,” or the one who is most willing to throw compassion and empathy away in favor of monetary gain. 

Iceland is not capitalist with a capital C.  It, according to the FBI World Factbook, “…combines a capitalist structure and free-market principles with an extensive welfare system.”  Most of the exports are fish, or fish products, and there really is not a lot of agriculture or industrial production.  As such, some of the worse facets of capitalism, like the dehumanization of workers, the efficiency model, and the sometimes dire working conditions have not affected Icelandic citizens as they have citizens of more “capitalist” countries.  Iceland needs to remember its history.  One of the big industries in Iceland is tourism, and there is pressure coming from within to commercialize some of the natural landscapes, so as to attract more travelers.  In my eyes, doing so would take away from the “Icelandic experience,” if you will.  In commercializing, the natural, untouched beauty of the land would be hindered, creating less of a reason to go there.  The “improved” spaces would lose their escapism.  Iceland should remember and see the uniqueness of its current position, and resist the likely attempts by capitalists to ruin that which makes it special.

Citation:

"Europe: Iceland." Welcome to the CIA Web Site - Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 20 Oct. 2011 <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ic.html>.