Cultures of environmentalism : empirical studies in environmental sociology

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Title:

Author:

Yearley, Steven.

ISBN:

9781403901200

Personal Author:

Yearley, Steven.

Publication Information:

New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.

Physical Description:

vii, 205 p. ; 23 cm.

Contents:

1. Introduction : studying environmental issues sociologically -- Pt. I. Cultures of movement : the sociology of environmental movements and problems -- 2. Social movement theory and the character of environmental social movements -- 3. Shell, a sure target for global environmental campaigning? -- 4. How environmental problems come to be 'global' : sociological perspectives on the globalisation of the environment -- Pt. II. Studies of environment, law and public policy -- 5. Bog standards : contesting conservation value at a public inquiry -- 6. Independence and impartiality in legal defences of the environment -- 7. Modelling the environment : participation, trust and legitimacy in urban air-quality models -- Pt. III. Cultures of knowing and proving : science, evidence and the environment -- 8. Green ambivalence about science -- 9. Mad about the buoy : trust and method in the Brent Spar controversy.

10. Genetically modified organisms and the unbearable irresolution of testing -- 11. The value of environmental sociology : towards a sociology of the sustainable society.

Abstract:

"This book demonstrates the power and scope of empirical analysis in environmental sociology. In doing so, it provides an antidote to the recent dominance of abstract theoretical disputes in sociological work on nature and the environment. Dividing the author's first-hand research studies into three categories - on cultures of movement, on environment, law and public policy, and on cultures of knowing and proving - this text uses case studies, interviews, focus-group techniques and observational analyses to explore the development of environmentalism and the environmental movement. The analyses enable the reader to understand how environmental disputes are contested, perpetuated and resolved. The cases are carefully documented with extensive use of original materials. Drawing on the substantive findings in the empirical chapters, the book concludes with an original sociological treatment of the challenges that will face attempts to live sustainably.

It is essential reading for students and academics in sociology, social anthropology, social geography and cultural studies."--BOOK JACKET.

Subject Term:

Environmentalism -- Social aspects.

Environmental policy.

Electronic Access:

Table of contents http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/hol052/2004051672.html
Publisher description http://www.loc.gov/catdir/description/hol053/2004051672.html
Contributor biographical information http://www.loc.gov/catdir/bios/hol059/2004051672.html

Copies:

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Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Copy	Status
Searching... 1:IIEMSA	1:GEN-BOOK	33168015759299	333.72 Y39C 2005	1	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

As environmental issues increasingly impinge on society, sociologists have turned their attention to nature and the environment. However, unlike the majority of sociological work on environmental issues, which has too often been dominated by abstract theoretical disputes, this book concentrates on empirical studies in environmental sociology. It shows what sociologists can bring to current debates over environmental topics (including genetic modification) and - using the author's first-hand research - demonstrates how sociologists can best pursue practical work on environmental topics.