Social Movements, Public Spheres and the European Politics of the Environment : Green Power Europe?

This Book Examines How The European Environmental Movement, As Part Of An Emerging European Civil Society, Has Impinged On The Problem Definitions And Solution Strategies In The European Politics Of The Environment. Examining Core Case Studies In European Environmental Policy - Biodiversity Politics (natura 2000), The Politics Of Genetically Modified Organisms, Trans-european Transport Networks, And The European Politics Of Climate Change - This Study, Written At The Crossroads Of Social Movement, Public Sphere And Political Discourse Theory, Argues That A Social Movement's Most Important Feature Is Its 'cognitive Praxis', Its Ability To Successfully Challenge Dominant Conceptions Of Reality And To Create New Green Public Spheres. It Examines Whether 'ecological Modernization' Is Able To Solve The Tension Between Economic Growth And Environmental Protection, And To What Extent European Environmentalism Has Contributed To The Emergence Of A Green 'normative Power Europe'. Introduction -- Social Movements, Civil Society And Public Spheres -- European Environmental Politics -- Environmental Groups In Brussels -- In Search Of A Green 'good Society' -- The Natura 2000 Discourse -- Framing Genetically Modified Organisms -- Ecological Modernization And The Trans-european Transport Network -- The European Politics Of Climate Change -- Conclusion. Hein-anton Van Der Heijden. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book analyzes how the European environmental movement has influenced the problem definitions and solution strategies of European policy issues, examining biodiversity, GMOs, Trans-European Transport Networks, and climate change. This book examines how the European environmental movement, as part of an emerging European civil society, has impinged on the problem definitions and solution strategies in the European politics of the environment. Examining core case studies in European environmental policy - biodiversity politics (Natura 2000), the politics of genetically modified organisms, Trans-European Transport Networks, and the European politics of climate change - this study, written at the crossroads of social movement, public sphere and political discourse theory, argues that a social movement's most important feature is its 'cognitive praxis', its ability to successfully challenge dominant conceptions of reality and to create new green public spheres. It examines whether 'ecological modernization' is able to solve the tension between economic growth and environmental protection, and to what extent European environmentalism has contributed to the emergence of a green 'normative power Europe' Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 List of Tables and Boxes......Page 7 Acknowledgments......Page 8 List of Abbreviations......Page 9 1 Introduction......Page 12 2 Social Movements, Civil Society and Public Spheres......Page 29 3 European Environmental Politics......Page 51 4 Environmental Groups in Brussels......Page 72 5 In Search of a European ‘Good Society’......Page 88 6 The Natura 2000 Discourse......Page 108 7 Framing Genetically Modified Organisms......Page 134 8 Ecological Modernization and the Trans-European Transport Network......Page 156 9 The European Politics of Climate Change......Page 178 10 Conclusion......Page 200 Notes......Page 213 References......Page 220 Index......Page 231 This title analyses how the European environmental movement has influenced the problem definitions and solution strategies of European policy issues, examining biodiversity, GMOs, trans-European transport networks, and climate change