Political Economy, Capitalism and Sustainable Development

Sustainability

关键词: political economy;    Marxist theory;    capitalism;    sustainability conditions;    sustainable development;   

DOI  :  10.3390/su2082601

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

After a critical review of conventional approaches to sustainability, this paper contrasts orthodox (neoclassical) economic theory with a political economy approach, arguing that such an approach focusing on the historically specific organizational form of production and the inherent characteristics of the capitalist mode of production is crucial for exploring the preconditions, the content and the prospects of sustainability. Analyzing briefly these characteristics and the developmental trends of capitalism, we locate the basic causes behind the currently exacerbated economic and ecological crisis, and on these grounds we briefly explore the required systemic transformations necessary to ensure a socially and ecologically, truly sustainable development.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2010 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.