Ecosystemicity as a Vector of Sustainable Management in the Landscape of New Paradigms of Social Development

Understanding the linkages between social and natural systems is critical for efficient management and the implementation of sustainable development. However, contemporary discourse reveals a persistent over-economization of sustainable development, characterized by excessive emphasis on financial indicators and economic performance. This can obscure or compromise the sustainability movement’s larger social and environmental goals. This paper analyzes the role of the ecological component of sustainable development (SD) in relation to emerging paradigms of social development using the concept of ‘ecosystemicity’, and outlines prospects and applications of this concept. Using a narrative review of literature retrieved primarily via Semantic Scholar, the study identifies imbalances in SD conceptualization and practice, particularly a bias toward economic growth and metrics at the expense of social well-being and ecological integrity. The findings revealed imbalances in the current SD conceptualization and practical manifestations, namely, a bias towards economic growth and economic indices, to the detriment of social and especially ecological domains. This imbalance is present even in the indicators of SDGs as a foundation of the overall SD landscape, both globally and at the national and local levels. These imbalances are evident not only in policy and practice but also embedded within the indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which shape global, national, and local development trajectories.