Green economy and green capitalism: Some theoretical considerations

Abstract

This article reviews some central elements of the current debate about the multiple crises and related politics of crisis management in which the terms 'transition' and 'transformation' gain importance (used as analytical tools to understand actual dynamics; not so much in a normative sense, which is also part of the debate). A distinction between the two concepts is introduced to argue that transition focuses mainly on political steering whereas transformation points at more complex societal and economic processes. Analytical and political perspectives and proposals of transition are important but tend to underestimate societal power relations and hegemonic patterns of production and living. The current debate about a 'green economy' is located in the epistemic terrain of transition, i.e. political steering, whereas the term of transformation might indicate a more complex process towards a 'green capitalism'.