North—South Relations and the Ecological Debt: Asserting a Counter-Hegemonic Discourse

Abstract

We examine position papers by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) arguing for recognition of the ecological debt. We utilize Toulmin's (2003[1958]) model of argument analysis to outline the major claims advanced. The results illustrate the argument is comprised of four interrelated claims: 1) Northern historical development and present disproportionate production and consumption are founded on a socio-ecological subsidy or the underpayment and, at times, explicit looting of the natural resource assets of Southern countries; 2) the Southern external financial debt should be cancelled because it promotes the socio-ecological subsidy; 3) levels of Northern production and consumption are unsustainable over the long term because they are predicated on the North—South socio-ecological subsidy; 4) equity for present and rational obligations to future generations demands Northern countries begin paying back the accrued socio-ecological subsidy, an obligation defined as the ecological debt.