The Politics of the Earth: Environmental DiscoursesThe Politics of the Earth provides an excellent and accessible introduction to thinking about the environment by looking at the way people use language on environmental issues. John Dryzek helps make sense of the diverse developments in environmental politics by analysing the main discourses which have dominated the area during the last three decades, and which are likely to be influential in the future: Survivalism - based on the contention that the Earth has a limited stock of resources and prescribes drastic, multidimensional action to prevent global disaster, receiving a reply from Prometheans who deny such limits exist. Environmental Problem Solving - recognizes the existence of ecological problems but views them as tractable within the basic framework of industrial society. Sustainability - defined by imaginative attempts to dissolve the conflicts between environmental and economic values. Green Radicalism - rejects the basic structure of industrial society and the way the environment is conceptualized and promotes transformation in human consciousness, economics, and politics. John Dryzek provides a comprehensive and lively assessment of these various perspectives, their rise and fall, their interaction and impacts, and their strengths and weaknesses. His analysis of these discourses leads up to a concluding argument for a reinvigorated ecological democracy. The Politics of the Earth offers a new way of classifying and comparing the main strands of environmental politics. It will be fascinating and essential reading for all students of environmental politics and policy, and for anyone with an interest in environmental issues. |
Contents
A Discourse Approach | 3 |
GLOBAL LIMITS AND THEIR DENIAL | 21 |
The Political Philosophy of Survivalism | 31 |
Copyright | |
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achieved action administrative rationalism affairs agency analysis animals argue argument basic believe capacity capitalism capitalist chapter citizens comes committed commons concern constructed countries course decision deep democracy democratic democratic pragmatism discourse discussion Earth ecological modernization economic economic growth economic rationalism ecosystems effect environment environmental especially established example existence experience fact future given global green green romantics groups growth human idea impact individuals industrial institutions interests involve issues kind land less liberal limits matter means ment mental metaphor MOTIVES movement nature noted organization particular parties political pollution population practice problem problem solving produced Promethean protection question radical rationalists reason recognize relationships requires rhetorical risk social society structure survivalists sustainable development tion treated United values waste