Contradictions in the concept of sustainable development: An analysis in social, economic, and political contexts

This article presents a brief analysis of sustainable development in the context of contemporary productive forces and production relationships, as well as their contradictions regarding the limits of nature. For this particular evaluation, it was necessary to present a logical critique of ecological economics and environmental economics. To corroborate this inherent contradiction, certain data were included, such as surplus food production, the use of agrochemicals, the increasing average temperature of the planet due to the emission of greenhouse gases, and inequality in the distribution of income. Subsequently, an analysis of these data was performed. Finally, some general elements related to a new way of thinking about the productive forces and production relationships were proposed, which focus on a production dynamic directed toward basic human needs instead of market needs.