EDITORIAL: CAPITALISM, ENVIRONMENT AND COASTLINE

Abstract

This editorial addresses the relationship between capitalist enterprises and coastal areas from an environmental historical perspective. The introduction recalls the significant impact that, even in its mercantile origins, capitalism has always had on geographic areas and how its influence has served to reshape physical spaces. Coastal areas are a perfect illustration of this impact of capitalism and they have played a key role in accelerating the development of environmental awareness. The editorial outlines the structural analytical tools that are necessary to understand the phenomenon and reviews the concepts of the anthropocene, capitalocene and organocene. These tools and concepts are proposed for both management sciences and business history to address the key issues within a reflective framework. The different activities covered in this issue of the journal Entreprises et Histoire (fisheries and aquaculture resources, commercial ports, tourism) are presented within this framework in order to facilitate the analysis of the conflicts of use that may arise from their juxtaposition and respective dynamics.