Julius A. McGee, PhD.
Scholar, Educator, Researcher
Historical material analysis and critique of climate mitigation strategies that do not consider the complex reality of social inequality.
Since starting his PhD at the University of Oregon in 2011, Julius has outlined the ways in which organic agriculture contributes to climate change, illustrated how renewable energy consumption expands social inequality, and advocated for a more robust understanding of how energy systems perpetuate racism.
More recently, Julius has embarked on a book project that explores the connection between capital, slavery, and climate change.
With the escalation of the climate crisis, the asymmetry of climatic effects on various human populations becomes increasingly apparent. From wildfires to flooding, the populations affected by climate change are often the ones least responsible for the crisis. This talk will explore how the socioeconomic system of capitalism has historically exposed specific racial groups to environmental harm while also contributing to the climate crisis. In doing so, I seek to prove how colonialism, white supremacy, imperialism, and patriarchy are at the center of the climate crisis and why abolishing these systems is necessary for the future.
Selected Works:
Patrick Trent Greiner, Richard York, and Julius McGee. 2022. “When are Fossil Fuels Displaced? An Exploratory Inquiry into the Role of Nuclear Electricity Production in the Displacement of Fossil Fuels.” Heliyon. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022000834
McGee Julius. 2021. “Refinancing the Climate Crisis: The Disaster Politics of Climate Change and Datafication of Capital” Hampton Institute https://www.hamptonthink.org/read/refinancing-the-climate-crisis-the-disaster-politics-of-climate-change-and-the-datafication-of-capital
McGee Julius and Patrick Trent Greiner. 2020. “Racial Justice is Climate Justice: Racial Capitalism and the Fossil Economy” Hampton Institute https://www.hamptonthink.org/read/racial-justice-is-climate-justice-racial-capitalism-and-the-fossil-economy
McGee Julius and Patrick Trent Greiner. 2020. “How Long can Neoliberalism Withstand Climate Crisis? Monthly Review https://monthlyreview.org/2020/04/01/how-long-can-neoliberalism-withstand-climate-crisis/
McGee, Julius Alexander and Patrick Trent Greiner. 2019. “Renewable Energy Injustice: The Socio-environmental Implications of Renewable Energy Consumption.” Energy Research and Social Science (56) 101214 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214629618310971
On capitalist power, energy markets and climate crisis at the end of neoliberalism. This is Hell: Interview with Julius Alexander McGee and Patrick Trent Greiner https://thisishell.com/interviews/1177-patrick-trent-greiner-julius-alexander-mcgee
Areas of Interest
Mass Incarceration
I explore the impacts of mass incarceration as an extension of slavery on society through an abolitionist lens.
History of Capitalism
Longue-durée history allows us to step outside of the confines of national history to ask about the rise of long-term complexes and social structures. I take this approach towards the history and development of capital and its accumulation through genealogical materialist analysis of slavery.
My research elucidates the social forces of racialized power inequality to better understand the climate crisis and other crises of social inequity.
Climate Justice
As an abolitionist, I am concerned about the expansion of incarceration as a consequence of climate change. I research and lecture on state responses to environmental injustice complicating and critiquing claims of overcoming or mitigating harm on an international scale.
“At best, Marxian hypotheses are "servants, not masters." Indeed, it has been said that Karl Marx himself was not Marxian because in his studies he strived to understand modern society, while the religious Marxists, in their exegetical discussions, center their attention not upon the ongoing social system but rather upon an explanation and criticism of Marx — a sort of rumination of his conclusions, incidental errors and all. If, therefore, parts of this study seem Marxian, it is not because we have taken the ideas of this justly famous writer as gospel, but because we have not discovered any other that could explain the facts so consistently.”
– Dr. Oliver Cromwell Cox
Get in Touch
Reach out to me for collaborative projects, teaching and mentoring interest or for speaking engagement opportunities.