Environmental Sociology: A Scoial Constructionist Perspective (Environment and Society)

This new edition of John Hannigan's well-known and respected text has been thoroughly revised to reflect recent conceptual and empirical advances in environmental sociology. The book offers a distinctive and even-handed treatment of environmental issues and debates, integrating European theoretical contributions such as risk society and ecological modernization with North American empirical insights and findings. Key updates include: * an extended discussion of how classic sociological theory relates to contemporary environmental sociology * a critical overview of contemporary interdisciplinary perspectives, namely co-constructionist theories of ‘socionature’ * a focus on cultural sociologies of the environment, notably discourse analysis and social framing * updated coverage of the environmental justice movement and grassroots mobilizations * a review of the linkages between environmental sociology and the sociology of disasters * a brand new case history chapter on the escalating global conflict over freshwater resources. Making a strong case for centrally incorporating power relations into a realist/constructionist model of environmental knowledge, politics and policy-making, this book includes a comparative analysis of the USA, Britain and Canada, and will prove a valuable student resource.

This new edition of John Hannigan's well-known and respected text has been thoroughly revised to reflect recent conceptual and empirical advances in environmental sociology. The book offers a distinctive and even-handed treatment of environmental issues and debates, integrating European theoretical contributions such as risk society and ecological modernization with North American empirical insights and findings. Key updates include:

• an extended discussion of how classic sociological theory relates to contemporary environmental sociology


• a critical overview of contemporary interdisciplinary perspectives, namely co-constructionist theories of ‘socionature’


• a focus on cultural sociologies of the environment, notably discourse analysis and social framing


• updated coverage of the environmental justice movement and grassroots mobilizations


• a review of the linkages between environmental sociology and the sociology of disasters


• a brand new case history chapter on the escalating global conflict over freshwater resources.

Making a strong case for centrally incorporating power relations into a realist/constructionist model of environmental knowledge, politics and policy-making, this book includes a comparative analysis of the USA, Britain and Canada, and will prove a valuable student resource.

"Environmental Sociology makes a strong case for placing the study of emergent uncertainties, structures and flows central to a 'realist/ constructionist model' of environmental knowledge, politics and policy-making. The book offers a distinctive and even-handed treatment of environmental issues and debates, integrating European theoretical contributions such as risk society and ecological modernisation with North American empirical insights and findings." "The book will interest environmental professionals and activists, and will be an invaluable resource to undergraduate and postgraduate students in geography, sociology, political science and environmental studies."--Résumé de l'éditeur Environmental sociology as a field of inquiry Contemporary theoretical approaches to environmental Sociology Environmental discourse Discourse, power relations and political ecology Social construction of environmental issues and Problems Media and environmental communication Science, scientists and environmental problems Risk Biodiversity loss: the successful "career" of a Global environmental problem Towards an "emergence" model of environment and Society. "The book will interest environmental professionals and activists, and will be an invaluable resource to undergraduate and postgraduate students in geography, sociology, political science and environmental studies."--Jacket In this book the author argues that society's willingness to recognise and solve environmental problems rests primarily upon the claim-making activities of a number of issue entrepreneurs in science, mass-media and politics