Description
Book SynopsisThis book shows how sociologists have responded to the challenge of environmental issues such as global warming, ozone depletion, biodiversity loss and marine pollution. It also covers sociological ideas such as risk, interpretations of nature, environmental realism, and globalization. It assumes no specialist knowledge on the part of readers.
Trade Review"This is in every way an excellent textbook."
Times Higher Education "This book is an excellent introduction for students new to this area of inquiry and should enthuse them to deepen their investigation of some of the most important issues of the 21st century."
Sociology
“In a relaxed and readable style, Sutton introduces key concepts with a light touch, illustrating theories with major events and relevant contemporary issues.”
Area
"Phillip Sutton has crafted a systematic and thorough introduction to the social science of the environment: its definition, transformation, politicization and defence. He expansively charts the emergence of the field and points to how global changes and politics will affect its future. This book will become a key resource for new students of environmental sociology and a point of engagement for future discussion."
Hank Johnston, San Diego State University
"Philip Sutton combines an excellent introduction to the sociology of the environment with an innovative approach to the field. A stimulating and wide-ranging text."
Tim Newton, Exeter University
"Written for undergraduate students, Philip Sutton’s The Environment demands no prior knowledge of sociology. Remaining faithful to its subject matter, the book ranges freely across human and environmental sciences. Sutton rejects the “retreat into the present” that characterizes much contemporary sociology and frames environmental problems in relation to very long-term processes of human social development. This “sociological introduction” is challenging in all the right ways."
Stephen Quilley, Keele University
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements vii
Preface ix
1 Natural Environments 1
Defining Nature and Environment 1
Humans in Natural Environments 7
Natural and Artificial Environments 14
Conclusion 16
2 Knowing the Environment 18
Involvement and Detachment 18
The Scientific Revolution 22
Social Constructions of Nature 26
Critical Realism 32
Conclusion 36
3 Experiencing the Environment 38
An Environment of the Senses 38
Experiencing Environments 41
Ecological Identifications 44
Ecological Citizenship 52
4 Transforming the Environment 55
Social Development and the Environment 55
Industrialization 59
Urbanization 64
The Treadmill of Production and Consumption 67
5 Polluting the Environment 72
Types of Pollution 72
Awareness and Significance of Pollution 74
Sensitivity to Risks 80
Conclusion 88
6 Defending the Environment 91
Changing Attitudes 91
The Modern Origins of Nature Conservation 95
The Development of Environmentalism 99
Conclusion 107
7 Politicizing the Environment 109
A Politics of Nature 109
Ecologism: A New Political Ideology 113
The Emergence of Green Parties 116
Conclusion 124
8 Sustaining the Environment 126
The Idea of Sustainable Development 126
A Brief History of Sustainable Development 130
Sustainable Development in Practice 135
Can Societies Become Sustainable? 139
Conclusion 142
9 A Global Environment 144
What is Globalization? 144
The Biosphere as Environment 148
Global Problems, Global Solutions? 150
Conclusion 161
Glossary 164
References and Further Reading 170
Index 178
