Chapter 4 Sustainable political economy

Abstract

This chapter will discuss understandings of forms of sustainable political economy within the context of sustainability in the community. Essentially, it will examine the issues which emerge when a community favours a green economic model within the context of the now largely discredited neo-liberal framework that never valued notions of sustainability, and is now largely in crisis due to the market decline and ‘credit crunch’. In addition, the section will outline the significance of community-based political economy for the development of sustainable forms of justice. A sustainable form of political economy incorporates particular concerns, such as ‘the geographical scope of production for local needs, and the exposing and combating the institutions and power structures that lead to poverty and lack of local control’ (Kennet & Heinemann, 2006, p. 78). Under the neo-liberal system, a dichotomy existed between community development and the dominant, yet ultimately unsustainable, growth-based form of political economy.

Citation

Leonard, L. and Kenny, P. (2010), "Chapter 4 Sustainable political economy", Leonard, L. and Kenny, P. (Ed.) Sustainable Justice and the Community (Advances in Ecopolitics, Vol. 6), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 111-136. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2041-806X(2010)0000006007