IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/osf/socarx/q53np_v1.html

Age of Planetarity: A Deep Dive Assessment on Empire of Zombie Technologies

Author

Listed:
  • Vidal, Florian
  • Halloy, José

    (Université Paris Cité)

Abstract

This article analyses the contemporary international system through a pluridisciplinary lens integrating imperial history, complex systems theory, and Earth system science. Situated within the dynamics of the Anthropocene, it reconceptualizes contemporary great-power competition by examining socio-technical systems (STS) predicated on the intensive consumption of fossil fuels and mineral resources. We posit that the prevailing STS metabolic regime is unsustainable in the long term, owing to the significant constraints imposed by geological and planetary boundaries. These limitations will become increasingly pronounced as the effects of the systemic crisis intensify. This regime not only perpetuates imperialist logics, visible in rivalries over resources essential for technological dominance, but also generates a ‘zombified’ technosphere that actively disrupts Earth system processes and jeopardizes planetary habitability. The article consequently advocates for de-imperialism as an essential trajectory, requiring a shift to networked and systemic geopolitics via the active dismantling of imperial structures.

Suggested Citation

  • Vidal, Florian & Halloy, José, 2026. "Age of Planetarity: A Deep Dive Assessment on Empire of Zombie Technologies," SocArXiv q53np_v1, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:q53np_v1
    DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/q53np_v1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://osf.io/download/6a6a1b113cda362f650e4ea4/
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.31235/osf.io/q53np_v1?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pelenc, Jérôme & Ballet, Jérôme, 2015. "Strong sustainability, critical natural capital and the capability approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 36-44.
    2. Peng Zhou & Dong Guo, 2025. "Sanctions, Co-Sanctions, and Counter-Sanctions: A Multilateral, Evolutionary Game Among Three Global Powers," Defence and Peace Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(1), pages 60-85, January.
    3. Vázquez Rojo, Juan & Visintin, Stefano, 2024. "The US-China race for technological centrality: A network perspective," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 68-83.
    4. Helmut Haberl, 2001. "The Energetic Metabolism of Societies: Part II: Empirical Examples," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 5(2), pages 71-88, April.
    5. Dou Shiquan & Xu Deyi, 2023. "The security of critical mineral supply chains," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 36(3), pages 401-412, September.
    6. Alan Murray & Keith Skene & Kathryn Haynes, 2017. "The Circular Economy: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of the Concept and Application in a Global Context," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 140(3), pages 369-380, February.
    7. Winans, K. & Kendall, A. & Deng, H., 2017. "The history and current applications of the circular economy concept," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P1), pages 825-833.
    8. Edward I. Altman & Rui Dai & Wei Wang, 2024. "Global zombie companies: measurements, determinants, and outcomes," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 55(6), pages 723-744, August.
    9. Haberl, Helmut, 2006. "The global socioeconomic energetic metabolism as a sustainability problem," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 87-99.
    10. Gabriel Felbermayr & Hendrik Mahlkow & Alexander Sandkamp, 2023. "Cutting through the value chain: the long-run effects of decoupling the East from the West," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 50(1), pages 75-108, February.
    11. Helmut Haberl, 2001. "The Energetic Metabolism of Societies Part I: Accounting Concepts," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 5(1), pages 11-33, January.
    12. C'esar A. Hidalgo, 2022. "The Policy Implications of Economic Complexity," Papers 2205.02164, arXiv.org, revised Aug 2023.
    13. Pauliuk, Stefan & Hertwich, Edgar G., 2015. "Socioeconomic metabolism as paradigm for studying the biophysical basis of human societies," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 83-93.
    14. Abbott, Kenneth W. & Green, Jessica F. & Keohane, Robert O., 2016. "Organizational Ecology and Institutional Change in Global Governance," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 70(2), pages 247-277, April.
    15. Julie Shortridge & Janey Smith Camp, 2019. "Addressing Climate Change as an Emerging Risk to Infrastructure Systems," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 39(5), pages 959-967, May.
    16. Ulrich Brand & Markus Wissen, 2013. "Crisis and continuity of capitalist society-nature relationships: The imperial mode of living and the limits to environmental governance," Review of International Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(4), pages 687-711, August.
    17. Omid Asadollah & Linda Schwartz Carmy & Md. Rezwanul Hoque & Hakan Yilmazkuday, 2024. "Geopolitical risk, supply chains, and global inflation," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(8), pages 3450-3486, August.
    18. Hidalgo, César A., 2023. "The policy implications of economic complexity," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(9).
    19. Lauren A. Johnston, 2019. "The Belt and Road Initiative: What is in it for China?," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 6(1), pages 40-58, January.
    20. Lauren A. Johnston, 2019. "The Belt and Road Initiative: What is in it for China?," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies 201903, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
    21. Baumgärtner, Stefan & Quaas, Martin F., 2009. "Ecological-economic viability as a criterion of strong sustainability under uncertainty," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(7), pages 2008-2020, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Andreas Mayer & Willi Haas & Dominik Wiedenhofer & Fridolin Krausmann & Philip Nuss & Gian Andrea Blengini, 2019. "Measuring Progress towards a Circular Economy: A Monitoring Framework for Economy‐wide Material Loop Closing in the EU28," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(1), pages 62-76, February.
    2. Zhang, Yan & Zheng, Hongmei & Fath, Brian D., 2014. "Analysis of the energy metabolism of urban socioeconomic sectors and the associated carbon footprints: Model development and a case study for Beijing," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 540-551.
    3. Galychyn, Oleksandr, 2022. "Towards sustainable cities: A multi-criteria assessment framework for studying urban metabolism," MPRA Paper 121584, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 11 May 2022.
    4. Alice Nicole Sindzingre, 2021. "Economic Relationships Between Sub-Saharan Africa and China: An Alternative Theoretical and Policy Paradigm?," Post-Print halshs-03625159, HAL.
    5. Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm, 2023. "The Least developed countries' TRIPS Waiver and the Strength of Intellectual Property Protection," EconStor Preprints 271537, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    6. Risa Arai & Martin Calisto Friant & Walter J. V. Vermeulen, 2024. "The Japanese Circular Economy and Sound Material-Cycle Society Policies: Discourse and Policy Analysis," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 619-650, March.
    7. Blair Fix, 2019. "Energy, hierarchy and the origin of inequality," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-32, April.
    8. Jules-Eric Tchapchet-Tchouto, 2025. "Delving out of “Aid-Mirage Curse” in African Countries," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 45(3), pages 1354-1364.
    9. Marull, Joan & Pino, Joan & Melero, Yolanda & Tello, Enric, 2023. "Using thermodynamics to understand the links between energy, information, structure and biodiversity in a human-transformed landscape," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 476(C).
    10. Luiz Fernando Rodrigues Pinto & Glória de Fátima Pereira Venturini & Salvatore Digiesi & Francesco Facchini & Geraldo Cardoso de Oliveira Neto, 2020. "Sustainability Assessment in Manufacturing under a Strong Sustainability Perspective—An Ecological Neutrality Initiative," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-40, November.
    11. María Guadalupe Montiel-Hernández & Carla Carolina Pérez-Hernández & Blanca Cecilia Salazar-Hernández, 2024. "The Intrinsic Links of Economic Complexity with Sustainability Dimensions: A Systematic Review and Agenda for Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-26, January.
    12. Cusso, Xavier & Garrabou, Ramon & Tello, Enric, 2006. "Social metabolism in an agrarian region of Catalonia (Spain) in 1860-1870: Flows, energy balance and land use," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(1), pages 49-65, June.
    13. Buyukyazici, Duygu & Quatraro, Francesco, 2025. "The skill requirements of the circular economy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    14. Hanie Abbaslou & B. Abolpour & Shahin Zare & Mohsen Khojastehnezhad, 2025. "Transition Towards a Circular Economic Model in the Processes of the MIDREX-NG DRI," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(5), pages 3973-3990, October.
    15. Koffi Dumor & Li Yao, 2019. "Estimating China’s Trade with Its Partner Countries within the Belt and Road Initiative Using Neural Network Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-22, March.
    16. Juhász, Sándor & Wachs, Johannes & Kaminski, Jermain & Hidalgo, César A., 2026. "The software complexity of nations," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(3).
    17. Xiuyun Yang & Muhammad Nouman Shafiq & Rabia Nazir & Seemab Gillani, 2025. "Economic complexity and the green transition: integrating energy efficiency and digital technologies for sustainable restructuring," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 58(6), pages 1-59, December.
    18. Nina Eisenmenger & Stefan Giljum & Stephan Lutter & Alexandra Marques & Michaela C. Theurl & Henrique M. Pereira & Arnold Tukker, 2016. "Towards a Conceptual Framework for Social-Ecological Systems Integrating Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services with Resource Efficiency Indicators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-15, February.
    19. Muafi Muafi, 2021. "A model of circular economy in the relationship with sustainable development, recycling, and life cycle: Bibliometric analysis," International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293), Bussecon International Academy, vol. 3(1), pages 38-49, January.
    20. Valentina Jacometti, 2019. "Circular Economy and Waste in the Fashion Industry," Laws, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-13, October.

    More about this item

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:q53np_v1. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: OSF (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://socarxiv.org .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.