Why sustainability matters. Some sociological observations drawn from the findings of Peace Research

Although classical sociology has long neglected the role of environmental factors in the determination and interpretation of social facts, considering the environment as an external variable that is complementary or even irrelevant to the social fact (Durkheim, 1982), in recent years the biological and physiological dimensions began to recover the space that had long been denied to them. Peace studies and sustainablility studies have played an important role on it. The concept of peace and that of sustainability are not only connected through a historical process of social claims that originated in '68, which saw both pacifist political movements and environmentalists flourish almost simultaneously, but also by a convergence of agendas about the need to call into question the paradigms of advanced capitalism. Working on the criticalities generated by the capitalist system of production, the Peace Research agenda is trying to change the perception on the importance of environment and envronmental assets in terms of conflict prevention, conflict resolution, well being and fight against social inequalities.