What future for socio-ecological transformation? Solutions, false solutions and alternatives.

The MAK’IT Institute for Advanced Studies is delighted to invite you to the seminar organized by Gabriela Merlinsky, current MAK’IT Fellow and Full Professor of Environmental Sociology at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Buenos Aires.

Abstract:

Over the last decade, debates on socio-ecological transformation have generated growing interest due to the collapse of agreements that enabled global governance, the increasing overlap of social, political, health, geopolitical, economic and ecological crises, and the emergence of Green New Deal (GND) proposals.

The great debate of our time concerns the meaning of the socioecological crisis and how to address it. The prevailing view focuses on ensuring that certain countries or regions have access to raw materials. In this context, decarbonising the economy means decoupling economic growth from the use of resources and its environmental impact. However, it is far from clear how the necessary absolute reduction could be achieved within the economic growth paradigm.

Three important questions arise here. Firstly, the reductionist view that socio-ecological transformation is linked solely to the debate on energy transition must be challenged. Secondly, we need to question how the energy transition is being carried out, and who will bear the costs. Thirdly, considering the authoritarian solutions being proposed to address the global crisis, it is crucial to consider alternative scenarios.

This seminar aims to bring together existing research from Latin America and Europe to explore socio-ecological transformation scenarios that consider the complex social and political implications. Together, we will consider the social, economic and cultural changes for achieving a fair, pluralistic and democratic transformation in the relationship between nature and society.

Full program and speakers will be announced soon