Political ecology is an interdisciplinary field of study that examines the political and economic factors that shape our relationship with the environment (Robbins, 2019). It seeks to understand how power, social relations, and ecological systems intersect and influence one another. At its core, political ecology is concerned with understanding and addressing environmental injustice and inequality.

One of the key issues that political ecology grapples with is the impact of capitalism on the environment (Giraldo, 2019). The drive for profit and economic growth has led to widespread environmental degradation, including pollution, deforestation, and the depletion of natural resources. These environmental problems are often the result of corporate interests and the exploitation of marginalized communities. For example, large corporations often extract resources from Indigenous lands without their consent, leading to the loss of traditional livelihoods and cultural practices.

Another important topic within political ecology is the role of the state in environmental management and regulation (Fletcher, 2010). While governments have a responsibility to protect the environment, they are often influenced by corporate interests and fail to address environmental problems adequately. Political ecology aims to promote more democratic and participatory forms of governance, in which marginalized communities have a greater voice in environmental decision-making.

Political ecology recognizes that environmental problems are not just technical issues that can be solved through technological innovation or market-based solutions (Jacobi et al., 2021). Instead, they are deeply rooted in social and political structures, including systems of power and inequality. Therefore, addressing environmental problems requires broader societal change, including the transformation of economic systems and the redistribution of resources and power.

The field emerged as a response to the environmental and social injustices resulting from capitalist development practices. It has been influenced by a range of theoretical frameworks, including political economy, cultural ecology, and post-structuralism. These frameworks offer different perspectives on the interactions between human societies and the environment, and provide analytical tools to examine the power dynamics that shape environmental decision-making.

Political ecology challenges the traditional division of nature and society, which has been fundamental in the formation of modern Western thought . This division assumes that nature exists as a separate entity from humans and is a resource for human exploitation and development. Society, on the other hand, is seen as a separate entity that uses and manages nature for its own benefit. Political ecology critiques this division, arguing that it is not only conceptually problematic but also perpetuates social and environmental inequalities.

Overall, political ecology provides a critical framework for understanding the complex interactions between human society and the environment. By examining the political and economic factors that underlie environmental problems, political ecology offers insights into how we can create a more just and sustainable world.

• Fletcher, R. (2010). Neoliberal environmentality: Towards a poststructuralist political ecology of the conservation debate. Conservation and Society, 8(3), 171–181. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-4923.73806
• Giraldo, O. F. (2019). Political Ecology of Agriculture. In Political Ecology of Agriculture. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11824-2
• Jacobi, J., Villavicencio Valdez, G. V., & Benabderrazik, K. (2021). Towards political ecologies of food. Nature Food, 2, 835–837. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00404-8
• Robbins, P. (2019). Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction (3rd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.