Global transformations, social metabolism and socio- environmental conflicts 1 . 9 Roldan Muradian Center for International Development Issues (CIDIN) Radboud University Nijmegen. The Netherlands (r.muradian@maw.ru.nl) Mariana Walter Institute for Environmental Sciences and Technology (ICTA) Autonomous University of Barcelona, España Joan Martinez-Alier Institute for Environmental Sciences and Technology (ICTA) Autonomous University of Barcelona, España (joanmartinezalier@gmail.com) ABSTRACT This paper argues that the emergence of new global economic centers is inducing a major expansion in the global social metabolism –the flows of energy and materials into the world economy–, a transformation in the systems for the extraction and provision of natural resources, as well as setting the conditions for socio-environmental conflicts at the commodity frontiers, particularly in areas with a dense human occupation of the territory. We point out that we are currently experiencing global transformations that constitute the beginning of a new historical phase of modern capitalism. The aim of the paper is to draw an overall picture of such transformations and discuss some of their implications for resource-rich countries. In this paper we argue that we are currently experiencing global transformations that constitute the beginning of a new historical phase of modern capitalism. This phenomenon has significant socio-economic and environmental implications for countries rich in natural resources, particularly in Africa and Latin America. At the basis on such transformations is the recent economic emergence of China, and the hegemonic transition (sensu Arrighi) that 1 El presente documento es una versión preliminar del artículo introductorio a la sección especial sobre transformaciones globales, metabolismo social y dinámicas de los conflictos socio-ambientales publicada en la revista internacional Global Environmental Change en agosto del 2012. Esta investigación fue parcialmente financiada por el proyecto ENGOV (EC FP7 266710) y el proyecto del MICINN Español CSO2010-21979.