Evolution of the Idea and Practice of Sustainable Development

The article examines the evolution of the idea of sustainable development through the prism of new regionalization. The current stage of development of society is associated with a critical increase in political-economic, geopolitical, technological, financial, and other uncertainties. At the same time, more and more attention is being paid to the environmental imperative. Thus, the mechanism for coordinating economic interests is being transformed; to a certain extent, they are simulated, making it possible to use the environmental imperative to solve their own selfish economic, political, and social problems. Thus, real environmental safety is at risk. The influence of new regionalization on the idea and practice of sustainable development is determined: on the one hand, economic leader countries use the environmental agenda as a means of political “pressure” in order to maintain their international influence. At the same time, the strengthening of the struggle of a number of countries against the new imperialism (the ideological basis of which is liberal fundamentalism), the success of which creates the conditions for the development and establishment of real sustainable development. The object of our research is sustainable development. The aim of this study is to show the evolution of the idea and practice of sustainable development (ecological imperative) in the context of new regionalization. When writing the article, we used research from foreign and domestic economists and data from our own scientific works. During the study, general scientific methods, a systematic approach, an institutional approach, as well as other general scientific methods and principles of knowledge were used. The significance and limitations of the conclusions are shown, as well as further prospects for the research.