This uniquely Canadian text examines the relationship between humans and the environment, the social factors that cause environmental problems, and potential solutions to these problems. Exploring what sociologists can contribute to the study of environmental issues, this text also considers the
historical relationship between humans and the natural world, theoretical perspectives, and such key topics as scarcity, sustainability, globalization, and natural disasters.
Note: All chapters include:
- Key Points
- Questions for Critical Thought
- Suggested Readings
- Suggested Websites
1. Thinking about the Human-Nature Relationship
Introduction
Sociology: A Part of the Problem?
HEP, NEP, and DWW
The Promise of
Sociology
Conclusion
2. Learning from the Past: Taking a Long View of the Human-Nature Relationship
Introduction
Welcome to the Anthropocene
Too Much of a Good Thing? The Problem of Abundance
Diminishing Returns
The Problem of Time
Drawing Lessons from the
Past
Conclusion
3. Environmentalism and Its Opponents
Introduction
A Brief History of Environmentalism
The Global Face of Environmentalism
Opponents of Environmentalism
Conclusion
4. The Great Debate: Social Constructionism vs. Environmental
Realism
Introduction
The Debate (A Quick Overview)
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Realist and Constructionist Perspectives
A Case Study: Global Climate Change
Conclusion
5. Scarcity, Treadmills, and the Age of Peak
Introduction
What Is Scarcity?
The
Treadmill of Production: On the Road to Disaster?
A New Era of Absolute Scarcity, or Just More of the Same?
Scarcity's Children
Conclusion
6. A Dangerous New World? The Risk Society Thesis
Introduction
Beck's Risk Society Thesis
Critiques of Beck and the Risk
Society Thesis
Risk in the Real World
Conclusion
7. Making Capitalism Work? Sustainability, Neoliberalism, and Ecological Modernization Theory
Introduction
Sustainability
Neoliberalism
Ecological Modernization Theory
Conclusion
8. Globalization and the
Environment
Introduction
What Is Globalization?
Why Globalization Matters to the Environment
The Optimistic View: Globalization as an Opportunity to Improve Environmental Performance
The Critical View: Globalization as a Major Environmental Problem
Which Kind of
Globalization?
Conclusion
9. Science and Knowledge
Introduction
Why Science Matters to the Environment
Where Does the Cultural Authority of Science Come From?
The Democratic-Deficit Problem
The Politicization Problem
Other Ways of Knowing
Finding the Right
Role for Science
Conclusion
10. Disaster, Shock, and Resilience
Introduction
The Age of Disasters
Individual and Collective Responses to Disaster
Vulnerability to Disaster
Conclusion
11. Putting Humans and Nature Back Together
Introduction
Three
Perspectives on Humans and Nature
Conclusion
Glossary
References
Index
There are no Instructor/Student Resources available at this time.
Nathan Young holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of British Columbia. He is currently an associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Ottawa. His teaching and research interests include environmental sociology, natural resources, economic
sociology, and the sociology of science and knowledge. His 2010 book The Aquaculture Controversy in Canada (co-authored with Ralph Matthews), won the 2011 K.D. Srivastava Prize for Excellence in Scholarly Publishing (Book of the Year from UBC Press).
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