The elusive socio-ecological alternatives

Against the backdrop of the present global socio-ecological crisis, a discussion increasingly focuses on the alternatives which could bring about a profound and radical transformation of the values, means and ends that characterize the predominant global neoliberal capitalist paradigm. Since alternatives are a highly complex and context-dependent concept, this chapter proposes, by means of a critical review of the literature and discourses of transition, a matrix to help: (i) identify the dynamics of social and institutional change at their root; (ii) analyse how the current hegemonic development model and governance patterns influence the emergence of these alternatives, and (iii) understand to what degree this model may trigger shifts in collective thinking and political action.