Social Theory and the Environment

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This book establishes whether contemporary social theory can help us understand the structural origins of environmental degradation and environmental politics.

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David Goldblatt

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Environmental Science Environmental Studies Gesellschaftstheorie Social Theory Sociology Sociology Special Topics Soziologie Spezialthemen Soziologie Umweltforschung Umweltwissenschaften

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"This book is a most welcome addition to the contemporarydiscussion of environmental issues in the social sciences. As acritical evaluation and reconstruction of its four chosentheorists, it could hardly be bettered. It is clear, rigorous,intellectually challenging and politically serious ... a fine andlasting achievement." Ted Benton, University of Essex "Offers a welcome and timely survey of those thinkers - AndreGorz, Anthony Giddens, Jurgen Habermas, Ulrich Beck - who havetried to move beyond the exploded belief in the "conquest" ofnature and unlimited growth." New Statesman and Society "David Goldblatt has done us the large favour of starting fromthe other end of the story. Rather than using environmentalism toshore up a set of conclusions arrived at elsewhere, he starts withthe two main questions posed by environmentalism - the structuralorigins of environmental degradation and the conditions under whichenvironmental movements might ameliorate or prevent thatdegradation - and examines the work of four contemporary socialtheorists to see what answers they provide. Goldblatt's ownanalysis is thoughtful, well argued and has a painful honesty toit; even when it appears that conclusions do not please him, hefollows them through to the end. In this thoughtful book, DavidGoldblatt has helped us to move towards some answers." TimesLiterary Supplement "An academically thorough and at the same time readableassessment of relevant writings of Anthony Giddens, Andre Gorz,J%uuml;rgen Habermas and Ulrich Beck. The discussions of individualtheorists would work well as stand-alone chapters, and wouldprovide students with very good starting points in each case ...ideal for student reading lists on environment-related socialscience courses." Environmental Values "Highly engaging review of current developments in social theory... this book is a testimony to the vigour and creativity of thediscipline's response to the environmental challenge. His writingis refreshingly clear and points are made cogently and logically."International Journal of Environmental Studies "The conclusion is the most interesting chapter, because in itGoldblatt brings together his own arguments." Environment andPlanning 'David Goldblatt's book is a welcome and scholarly contribution toa growing socialist literature in what may broadly be termedpolitical ecology ... Goldblatt's main acheivement ... is to drawtogether the disparate conceptual apparatus of modern Europeansocial theory and then to show how it provides the necessaryfoundation for a critical political ecology.' Capital andClass 'Social theorists may need to head in such directions given theplace that Goldblatt, carefully and convincingly, leads us to.'Urban Studies
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