In this year’s EuroMemorandum, the chapter called “Challenges of Sustainable Development” (CoSD) draws on the papers and discussions from workshop 4, which I was responsible for. As a major driver of unsustainability, the chapter highlights increasing commodification, which in turn depends on the profit-driven dynamic of capital accumulation. Other challenges to sustainability, mentioned in the chapter, include policies of neoliberal state projects. To deal with these causes of unsustainability, the chapter ends up with three proposals; firstly, a Kuhnian paradigm shift, beyond the orthodox view; secondly, policies which empower actors collectively; and thirdly, the fostering of a needs-driven economy.

In my new paper, I want to build on last year's work by further developing and updating the conjunctural analysis in my own paper from 2024, one of the contributions to CoSD. That paper outlined a perspective which treats the crises as symptoms, focussing on their systemic causes, inherent in capitalism. Inspired by regulation theory and Bob Jessop, I presented capitalism as a mode of production and an object of regulation. Further, the paper drew on Gramsci’s distinction between organic and conjunctural movements, but had less to say about the latter. The new paper will bring the analysis further by answering questions which relate to the three proposals in CoSD. Firstly, how can the current conjuncture be explained, in a way which contributes to the paradigm shift? Secondly, what are the current preconditions for collective empowerment? Thirdly, where do potentials of a more needs-driven economy exist?