The Condition of the Anthropocene

Abstract

This article reviews social theory debates around the Anthropocene. A concept originally from the geological sciences, the Anthropocene has gained salience across the Social Sciences and Humanities as a marker for the condition where human activities have become the dominant force shaping Earth's environment. The rival concept, the Capitalocene emphasises the historical role of capitalism in commodifying natural resources, exploiting cheap labour, and prioritizing short-term gains over long-term sustainability. The concept of the Plantationocene further refines this critique by focusing on the systematic exploitation of land and people that began with European colonial plantations, thus extending the genealogy of the Anthropocene further and wider. In contrast, the Chthulucene   emphasizes the deep interconnectedness of all living systems. It calls for reimagining human-environment relationships through cooperation and symbiosis, fostering a more sustainable and interconnected future in an increasingly complex world.