Investigating the legal formalization and governance of social metabolism

Abstract:

This presentation is about ongoing research investigating the legal formalization and governance of social metabolisms towards the deep and badly needed socioecological metamorphosis that would allow mankind to overcome the Anthropocene predicament. The first endeavour is to draft a legal theory of socioecological regimes and their transitions, which means describing social metabolism in legal terms and concepts. The second challenge is to make this formal approach a tool to design blueprints for norms, institutions and policies contributing to the transformation of epochal scale that has to be thoroughly achieved in the coming decades. If we are to do that with the least troubles and conflicts and with the highest environmental and social standards, there is a need for coordinated decisions at every level. I hope to contribute with transdisciplinary transformative science and a pluralistic ethos allowing this long-winded transition to occur in a democratic manner (i.e. compatible with political changeover).

Benoît Schmaltz

Associate Professor in Public Law at Jean Monnet University, Saint-Etienne, France
CERCRID (Centre for Critical Research on the Law)

Benoît Schmaltz has a background in public law – his PhD, Les personnes publiques propriétaires (Université Jean Moulin, Lyon 3, 2014), was about property and the public/private divide. He is now involved in Anthropocene studies, trying to contribute to the needed transformation with his legal skills. On the one hand, he is working in operational projects pertaining to building efficiency (how to massify rehabilitation works with concession contracts) or circular agriculture (how to develop public networks and services collecting and treating human excreta). On the other hand, he is contributing to a legal theory of socioecological regimes and their transformations. Translating theories and knowledge of social ecology and ecological economics in legal vocabulary and concepts, the research aims to facilitate the design of public policies in accordance with a strong sustainability perspective.