The legitimacy crisis of global climate governance combining a Marxist and Polanyian perspective

This article frames recent problems of the RIO+20 summit, the failure of the CopenhagenCOP15 and the problems of the carbon markets within a broader legitimacy crisis of GlobalGovernance, consequence of the crisis of the global capitalist socio-ecology. Two mechanisms giverise to the loss of legitimacy; unequal development and mercantilization, or the reconfiguration of the power balance and the destruction of social ties. As a consequence both winners and loserscontest the legitimacy of the institutions and mechanisms that govern global capitalism. In thisarticle, we distinguish Marx-type of contestation, referring to emerging classes/states and Polanyi-type of contestation, referring to the victims of global mercantilization. In the case of Climate governance, these are represented by the role of the BRIC’s in climate negotiations and by the global environmental justice movement.This article frames recent problems of the RIO+20 summit, the failure of the CopenhagenCOP15 and the problems of the carbon markets within a broader legitimacy crisis of GlobalGovernance, consequence of the crisis of the global capitalist socio-ecology. Two mechanisms giverise to the loss of legitimacy; unequal development and mercantilization, or the reconfiguration of the power balance and the destruction of social ties. As a consequence both winners and loserscontest the legitimacy of the institutions and mechanisms that govern global capitalism. In thisarticle, we distinguish Marx-type of contestation, referring to emerging classes/states and Polanyi-type of contestation, referring to the victims of global mercantilization. In the case of Climate governance, these are represented by the role of the BRIC’s in climate negotiations and by the global environmental justice movement.C