Global Change: The Great Transformation

The Great Transformation is a process of transforming the global society and economy into a new one through fundamental changes in their structures, functions, and processes. Transformations of complex societal systems include the transformation of the economic mode of production and accumulation in modern society and of the societal relations with nature, which affect all members of the society, their modes of living, working, and consuming. The term Great Transformation was introduced by Polanyi to describe societal transformations in the history of human societies. The present transformation began in the 1990s with the discussion of sustainable development to convert the accelerating deterioration of the state of the Earth System and the worsening of the conditions of living for humans, animals, and plants.