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Article analysis:

The article "Cutting nature to fit: Urbanization, neoliberalism and biodiversity offsetting in England" provides a Marxist historical-geographical analysis of biodiversity offsetting policy in England. The authors argue that the emergence of biodiversity offsetting is related to the UK government's aspirations for large-scale urban development projects and the neoliberal reconstruction of conservation. They suggest that offsetting enables a social and spatial reterritorialization of socionatures, portraying urban development as the driver of environmental improvement.

The authors highlight how offsetting operationalized new ideas about nature as a stock of biodiversity, streamlined planning to support extended urbanization, foreclosed public debate about controversial urban development projects, and reterritorialized nature-society relationships. They also give a central role to social contestation against the implementation of offsetting in England, drawing attention to its class character and highlighting the potential for a new emancipatory politics that would encompass a 'right to nature' as a key element of struggles for the 'right to the city'.

Overall, the article provides an insightful analysis of biodiversity offsetting policy in England. However, it is important to note that the authors have a clear bias towards Marxist theory and may overlook other perspectives on conservation and urban development. Additionally, while they highlight social contestation against offsetting in England, they do not explore counterarguments or potential benefits of this policy. The article could benefit from more balanced reporting and consideration of multiple perspectives.