A Social Ecology of Capital

Capital is driving global material flows, relying on energy expenditures to transform the world, accumulate power, and grow the economy. Éric Pineault's book "A Social Ecology of Capital" proposes an original model of the fossil social metabolism that has sustained advanced capitalism, analyzing how social structures of accumulation, production, consumption, and waste determine and regulate the material flow and accumulation of material artifacts. It highlights the contradictions humanity now faces.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 20 February 2023
Publisher: Pluto Press

The ever-growing global material flows propelled by capital have necessitated substantial energy expenditures, relying heavily on fossil fuels and machines to transform the world, accumulate power, and drive economic growth. The extraction processes of the elements that form the throughput of material and energy flows, governed by capital's imperative of valorization, are the driving force behind the ecological relations and crises faced by contemporary societies.

In his book "A Social Ecology of Capital," Éric Pineault presents an innovative model of the fossil social metabolism that has been crucial to the growth of advanced capitalism over the past century. By integrating ecological economics and critical political economy, the book delves into how the social structures of accumulation, production, consumption, and waste shape and govern the flow of material and the accumulation of material artifacts. It sheds light on how social relations influence the ecology of capital, highlighting the contradictions that humanity currently faces.

The book explores how the processes of extraction and valorization of resources, driven by capital's pursuit of profit, contribute to environmental degradation and climate change. It emphasizes the need for a more sustainable and equitable distribution of resources and the importance of rethinking our economic systems to prioritize the well-being of both humans and the planet.

Through its comprehensive analysis, "A Social Ecology of Capital" offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between social, economic, and ecological systems and provides a framework for understanding and addressing the challenges we face in the 21st century. It serves as a call to action for policymakers, activists, and individuals to work towards a more sustainable and just future.

Weight: 196g
Dimension: 140 x 216 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780745343778