The Hegelian Master/Slave Dialectic in Environmental Law and Policy

Abstract

Under the European Landfill Directive, the UK is obliged to reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfill. However, at 63%, the UK has one of the highest landfill rates in Europe. Local authorities have had a duty to recycle waste since the Environment Protection Act 1990 but ultimately recycling rates lie within the control of individual households. The problem is that the more waste that is landfilled, the more greenhouse gases enter the atmosphere. Though they are produced by individuals in developed countries such as the UK, it is individuals in the developing world who will be more adversely affected. This paper will argue that there is a Hegelian master/slave dialectic operating at all levels of society, not just between government and the individual, but also between individuals across the globe and ultimately between individuals and nature. As the master tries to impose something on the slave, whether it is behaviour or adverse effects, the slave will seek to hold onto its power by responding with cynicism.

Keywords: Hegel, master, slave, cynicism, EU, landfill, recycling, environment, European Union