Uneven development and core-periphery dynamics: A journey into the perspective of ecologically unequal exchange

Abstract

There is an imperative need to transition towards sustainable societies to mitigate the consequences of the ongoing social-ecological crisis. This transition not only requires technical advancements, but also the reconsideration of our environmental paradigms and policies shaping the inter-relationships between human societies and natural ecosystems. The perspective of “ecologically unequal exchange” is receiving increasing attention in the academic debate, highlighting the unequal distribution of environmental costs and benefits across different regions, social groups, and generations. This theory posits that such inequalities arise from unaccounted dynamics of global development perpetuated by current environmental and trade policies. Through these, regions of the Core have achieved high levels of consumption and economic growth by exploiting the natural resources and labor of the global Periphery and Semi-periphery, while leaving behind a legacy of ecological degradation, social injustice, and debt. This article contributes to the understanding of ecologically unequal exchange theories, their evolution over time and related implications for sustainability policies. To do so, we perform a bibliometric analysis to assess the evolution and trends of ecologically unequal exchange literature in English-language journals followed by a literature review illustrating the origins of the concept, the theoretical debate, and empirical advances in the field. We find ecologically unequal exchange to be a rising research area with increasing empirical focus, fostered by interdisciplinary collaboration. Moreover, we juxtapose theories of ecologically unequal exchange with the contrasting paradigm of “Ecological Modernization” and the narratives of green growth and decoupling that underpin contemporary global sustainability policies, to elucidate key distinctions.