Ecosocialisation and environmental planning: a Polanyian approach

Abstract

Karl Polanyi provided a theoretically astute guide to the political economy of the developed world in the 20th century. He left us with important concepts that can inform thought and action in the 21st century. Most importantly his work brings together a critical understanding of society, nature, and economy and can therefore provide conceptual keys to placing that elusive concept ‘ecologically sustainable development’ in the broad flow of social change. In this paper I sketch a Polanyian approach to environmental planning, foregrounding the concept of ‘ecosocialisation’. I move from a discussion of our present situation through an analysis of ecological modernisation and eco-Marxist theory, retrieving some insights and revealing some lacunae. A Polanyian analysis of questions of social change is then outlined. Its implications for environmental planning are explored.