‘A liberated Palestine means a liberated Middle East. A liberated Middle East means capitalism in the core really faces a crisis.’ – Professor Jason Hickel

By MAHMOOD SANGLAY

Professor Jason Hickel, a British economic anthropologist and staunch critic of capitalism, imperialism and environmental degradation, has long argued that the fight for justice – be it ecological, economic, or political – is fundamentally a battle against capitalist exploitation.

His work has been instrumental in highlighting the global connections between environmental destruction, colonialism and economic injustice. One of the most compelling intersections Hickel examines is how the Palestinian liberation struggle is intrinsically linked to broader anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist movements.

At the Transnational Institute’s Ignite Festival on September 27 and 28, 2024 in Amsterdam, Hickel raised some compelling and relevant questions:  Why is Palestine central to the climate and colonial struggle? How are capitalism and the ecological crisis linked? Who really benefits from the exploitation of resources in the Global South?

He argues that the Global North – the ‘Imperial Core’ – is responsible for the excess emissions and resource extraction driving the climate breakdown. He believes that achieving economic democracy and sovereignty in the South is essential to dismantling the colonial power structures at the root of both climate change and imperial exploitation.

In his critique of capitalism, Hickel emphasises the ongoing colonial dynamics of global exploitation. He asserts that capitalism is rooted in the extraction of resources and exploitation of marginalised populations. He says this is the primary driver behind both the environmental crisis and global inequality, and the main beneficiaries of capitalism are ‘the core’ according to Hickel. ‘The core benefits and everyone else suffers,’ he notes, pointing out how the Global North’s richest nations have profited from the resources and labour of the Global South, which continues to bear the brunt of ecological destruction.

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Palestine, Hickel argues, is no exception to this global pattern. The Israeli occupation, at its roots, is not just a political or territorial issue but also an ecological one. Palestinian land and resources, particularly water and agricultural land, have been systematically appropriated to fuel Israel’s expansionist ambitions, which are intertwined with global capitalist interests.

The exploitation of Palestinian land, including the destruction of olive groves and the diversion of water sources, mirrors the broader global pattern of settler-colonial extractivism. As Hickel contends, ‘A liberated Palestine means a liberated Middle East. A liberated Middle East means capitalism in the core really faces a crisis’. This statement encapsulates how the liberation of Palestine threatens the economic structures that underpin global capitalism.

Hickel’s critique highlights how capitalism is not merely an economic system but also a global imperial project that relies on the subjugation and exploitation of the Global South, including Palestine. The extraction of resources from Palestinian land, coupled with military violence, reinforces a capitalist system that benefits a small elite while exploiting the majority of the world’s population. For the West, maintaining control over Palestine and its resources is crucial to sustaining its imperial dominance in the region. This exploitation is not confined to Palestine alone but extends to other regions of the Global South, where capitalist forces continue to perpetuate colonial dynamics of resource extraction and environmental degradation.

The environmental aspect of this struggle is central to Hickel’s analysis. He argues that the environmental crisis is a direct consequence of capitalist growth imperatives that prioritise profit over sustainability. The consequences of this approach are stark: global warming, loss of biodiversity and environmental degradation disproportionately impact the Global South, where communities are already vulnerable. In Palestine, the destruction of the environment is not just an act of political oppression but a means of sustaining the capitalist structures that exploit both land and people. Water apartheid, the deliberate pollution of Palestinian lands, and the destruction of essential resources are all part of this broader system of exploitation​.

The connection between Palestinian liberation and environmental justice is not just a matter of shared suffering but of shared struggle. Movements for climate justice, such as those advocating for indigenous rights and environmental protections in the Global South, are inherently anti-capitalist. These movements challenge the same systems that oppress Palestinians. The struggle for ecological justice, which calls for a break from exploitative resource extraction and the prioritisation of people over profit, is aligned with the broader movement for Palestinian liberation. Hickel’s work advocates for a radical transformation of the global economic system – one that decouples growth from environmental destruction and that places the needs of people and the planet above the demands of capital.

The parallels between the struggles for Palestinian liberation and broader anti-capitalist movements are striking. Both are rooted in the fight against imperialism, colonialism, and the capitalist exploitation of land and resources. The BDS movement, which seeks to isolate Israel economically and politically due to its apartheid policies, draws a direct line between Palestinian liberation and global anti-capitalist struggles. By targeting corporations that profit from Israeli occupation, the BDS movement connects Palestinian resistance with a global network of movements fighting against capitalist exploitation.

Furthermore, the question of economic sovereignty is central to both Palestine and the Global South. As Hickel argues, nations in the Global South, including Palestine, face severe restrictions on their ability to manage their own resources and economies due to external pressures from capitalist institutions. Structural adjustment programs and debt traps have prevented these nations from pursuing policies that would allow them to address their own developmental and ecological needs. For Palestine, this lack of economic sovereignty means that it is unable to control its resources or develop its economy independently, further entrenching its dependency on imperial powers.

Hickel’s advocacy for a system of economic democracy – where collective control over production and resources is placed in the hands of the people – offers a vision for a world free from capitalist exploitation. A world where the struggles for Palestinian liberation, climate justice and economic sovereignty are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. This vision requires a global movement that challenges the entrenched capitalist order and works towards a just and sustainable future for all.

The fight for Palestinian liberation is part of a larger struggle against global capitalism and imperialism. As Hickel poignantly asserts, a liberated Palestine is not just about freeing one people – it is about dismantling the capitalist system that exploits people and the planet. Solidarity with Palestine is therefore inseparable from the broader movement for environmental justice and economic liberation. In fighting for Palestine, we are fighting for a future that is equitable, sustainable and free from the forces of exploitation that have ravaged both people and the planet for centuries.