The paper explores the notion that critical theory is an appropriate conceptual framework for the reconstruction of one perspective in the contemporary discourse on environment and development, sustainable development (SD). The discussion reveals how the central problems in SD (such as its high level of interpretative flexibility, inconsistency with state-of-the-art findings in theory and empirical studies) are intimately connected to the relationship between theory and praxis in develop ment studies.
The paper is divided into two parts. The first part situates SD in the context of development studies. The main aim is to highlight the cognitive structure of develop ment theory and its relationship to praxis. The second part presents an argument for the reconstruction of SD as critical theory and outlines some of the theoretical problems posed by this task.
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