O gigante dos pés de barro : capitalismo e desenvolvimento sustentável

Abstract

This study resulted from many years of reflexion about big socio-environmental problems that gain more notoriety from 1960´s decade and now, had occupied a central place in the academic debates and the society in general. The investigation has as central problem, to verify the contradictions, inconsistencies, conflicts and weaknesses all around the concept, and also practices that envolved the proposal of sustainable development in brazilian and global levels. The methodology used in this study was mainly bibliographic and document analysis using interviews e testimonials about the key issues involved in the concept and practices related to the studied topic. The analysis method used is based on the historical materialism anchored in the theorethical counter-hegemonic camp composed by scholars who make the logical counterpoint to the current economic model of production, the capitalism. These issues are becoming increasingly relevant face to the serious socioenvironmental problems of the modern society. Its solution and/or minimization are always stopped by mechanisms that maintain the reproduction logic and expansion of capital whose projects, in our point of view, are inconciliabe with any other proposals aiming the environmental sustainability, as well as the minimization of poverty the social inequalities. To successfully complet the elucidation of the problem, this research seeks the desconstruction of the concept and the principles of sustainable development, built on the social, politic and economic dynamic logic of capital. For so, we tried to dissect the concept, deciphering it, and the capitalist strategies used for its construction. With the same matter, we analysed the actions and propositions coming from world environmental conferences, seeking to reveal the traps and tricks used in such events. The research showed that the set of forces of the hegemonic camp of capital had opposed interests and aspirations to the effective construction of any other propositions seeking to preserve planet resources and the poverty minimization. So, an economic model that carries in its internal structures a high destructive potential, under no circumstances will compromise part of their profits in order to alleviate the grave socioenvironmental problems produced. Because, it´s done it will evidenciate its weaknesses and contradictions, which should characterize its advanced stage of structural crisis. So, in these conditions the study shows that the unique way to mitigate, effectively, the serious socioenvironmental problems afflicting the humanity now, will pass necessarily by, the definitive overcoming of the capitalism and all kinds of domination.