The dialectics of capital: learning from Gran Chaco

Capitalism's dynamic influence on socio-ecological systems is revealed through the Dialectical Socio-Ecological System (D-SES) framework, which integrates process ecology with historical materialism. This approach uncovers how capitalist dynamics, characterized by autocatalysis, centripetality, directionality, and autonomy, emerge from interactions within economic/material and cultural/institutional spheres. Applied to the Chaco Salteño region—a key agricultural frontier in South America—this framework demonstrates how capital-intensive agriculture attracts resources, fine-tunes production modes, and generates class frictions that could serve as leverage points for systemic transformation. The study highlights the need for critical scrutiny of capitalism to achieve sustainability in an era marked by global environmental changes.

Ceddia, M. G., Montani, R., & Mioni, W. (2022). The dialectics of capital: learning from Gran Chaco. Sustainability Science, 17(6), 2347–2362. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-022-01203-1