This article deals with the new economic sociology's (NES) occasional contribution to the sociology of sustainable development. Beginning in the 1980s, the NES proposes to understand the economy as a social totality, including the sustainable development approach. Moreover, by considering the economy from the perspective of institutions, organizations, networks and governance modes, this view once again places the economy at the heart of society, which would be a minor development if this conception were already acknowledged by our society and even by our disciplines. Our documental research is conducted in two stages. The first part discusses the emergence of NES. In the second part we examine various approaches that propose the reconstruction of the economy as a sociological subject. Finally, we raise questions regarding what is possible to apprehend from these approaches, looking for a better understanding of the sustainable development.
New economic sociology; sustainable development; economy; French sociology; institutionalists