Sociological Theory and the Environment

Classical Foundations, Contemporary Insights

Contributions by Ted Benton, Frederick Buttel, Madison, William R. Catton Jr., Uk, Riley Dunlap, Peter Grimes, John Hannigan, Rosemary McKechnie, Raymond Murphy, Elim Papadakis, Timmons Roberts, Ornulf Seippel, Elizabeth Shove, Alan Warde, Peter Wehling, Ian Welsh, Steve Yearley Edited by Riley E. Dunlap, Frederick H. Buttel, Peter Dickens, August Gijswijt

Not available to order

Publication date:

29 December 2001

Length of book:

384 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9780742501850

Sociological Theory and the Environment is a comprehensive survey and assessment of sociological theories of the relations between societies and their 'natural' biophysical environment. This book touches on and addresses virtually all of the major perspectives, focal points, and debates in environmental sociology today—classical and twentieth century social theories, macro-micro linkage issues, globalization and development, reflexive modernization, ecological modernization vs. 'limits' viewpoints, modernity and post modernity, risk society, constructionalism-realism, environmental movements/identities, consumption and environment, cultural sociologies of the environment, and so on. At the same time, the book aims to go beyond an inventory of environmental sociological theory. Sociological Theory and the Environment stresses how new ground can be broken in the articulation of environmental sociology with major classical and contemporary sociological theories.

Part 1 Preface Part 2 I Introduction and Overview Chapter 3 1 Sociological Theory and the Environment: An Overview and Introduction Part 4 II The Classical Tradition and Environmental Sociology Chapter 5 2 Environmental Sociology and the Classical Sociological Tradition: Some Observations on Current Controversies Chapter 6 3 A Green Marxism? Labor-Processes, Alienation, and the Division of Labor Chapter 7 4 Ecological Materialism and the Sociology of Max Weber Chapter 8 5 Has the Durkheim Legacy Misled Sociology? Part 9 III Environmental Sociology and Twentieth Century Sociological Theory Chapter 10 6 Social Theory and the Environment: A Systems-Theoretical Perspective Chapter 11 7 Dynamic Constellations of the Individual, Society, and Nature: Critical Theory and Environmental Sociology Chapter 12 8 World-System Theory and the Environment: Toward a New Synthesis Part 13 IV Sociological Theory and Environmental Sociology in the Late 1990s: Modernity, Culture, and the Natural World Chapter 14 9 Modernity, Politics, and the Environment: A Theoretical Perspective Chapter 15 10 Inconspicuous Consumption: The Sociology of Consumption, Lifestyles, and the Environment Chapter 16 11 Social Theory and Ecological Politics: Reflexive Modernization or Green Socialism? Chapter 17 12 The Social Construction of Environmental Problems: A Theoretical Review and Some Not-Very Herculean Labors Chapter 18 13 When the Global Meet the Local: Critical Reflections on Reflexive Modernisation Chapter 19 14 Cultural Analysis and Environmental Theory: An Agenda Part 20 V Sociological Paradigms and Environmental Sociology Chapter 21 15 Paradigms, Theories, and Environmental Sociology Part 22 Index Part 23 About the Editors 24 About the Contributors

A unique book giving clear evidence of the relevance of all major traditional and contemporary social theories for understanding how modern society deals with the contemporary environmental crisis. Remarkably comprehensive and accessible, the book is essential reading for scholars and students in sociology and environmental studies.