A climate fit for capitalism: ordoliberalism's political ecology and German environmental politics

This article critically examines contemporary German environmental politics through its connections with ordoliberalism. Ordoliberalism is a branch of neoliberalism that prescribes a strong state to structure and optimize competition within a 'social market economy.' The article shows that ordoliberalism was built on a distinct political ecology that frames nature and the environment as potential sites of state intervention. It argues that ordoliberal political ecology can be made compatible with ostensibly opposed programs, including what we call 'fossil ordoliberalism,' 'green ordoliberalism,' and the potential for 'ordoliberal geoengineering.' Amidst the climate crisis, this ordoliberal malleability is exemplified by parties from the center-left Greens and center-right Liberals (FDP) to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Yet even in its progressive guise of a 'social-ecological market economy,' ordoliberal approaches will hit the 'glass ceiling' to socio-ecological transformation due to their technocratic orientation, democratic antipathies, and foundational commitment to market competition.