La significación de una Economía Ecológica radical

The emergence of Ecological Economics (EE) as a field of study to articulate a number of diverse disciplines has conferred its legitimacy on the study of the relationship economy-society-nature, with methodological pluralism as one of its central tenets. This has led to a multiplicity of contrasting analytical currents among its practitioners, each taking as its point of departure different epistemological and ethical premises to confront the relation between economic rationality and (un)sustainability. Neoclassical economic rationality maintains a strong presence in EE. Other critical methodological approaches make it clear that the role of monetary valuations of nature and the lack of consideration of distributive conflicts contribute to social and environmental problems that are part of the “crisis of civilization”. To face the challenge posed by these problems, the relevance of methodological pluralism for analysis is clear. This article suggests that a Marxist perspective can enrich the analysis, not only by aiding in the understanding of today’s economic and socioenvironmental crises but also by identifying strategies for overcoming them. The text argues that these additional considerations provide a contribution to the necessary debate for the consolidation of a radical version of EE.