Green Political Thought

by Andrew Dobson

Overview

This highly acclaimed introduction to green political thought is now available in a new edition, having been fully revised and updated to take into account the areas which have grown in importance since the third edition was published.

Andrew Dobson describes and assesses the political ideology of ‘ecologism’, and compares this radical view of remedies for the environmental crisis with the ‘environmentalism’ of mainstream politics. He examines the relationship between ecologism and other political ideologies, the philosophical basis of ecological thinking, the potential shape of a sustainable society, and the means at hand for achieving it.

New to this edition:

• analysis of an intellectual and political 'anti-environment' backlash
• an account of sustainability in ecological thought
• the effect of globalization on ecologism
• ecological citizenship
• expanded bibliography.

Green Political Thought remains the starting point for all students, academics and activists who want an introduction to green political theory.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781134141081
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/11/2007
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	354 KB

About the Author

Andrew Dobson is Professor of Environmental Political Theory at Keele University, UK

Table of Contents

Introduction Part 1: Thinking about Ecologism 1. Sustainable Societies 2. Reasons to Care for the Environment 3. Crisis and its Political-Strategic Consequences 4. Universality and Social Change 5. Lessons from Nature 6. Left and Right: Communism and Capitalism 7. Historical Specificity 8. Conclusion Part 2: Philosophical Foundations 9. Ethics: A Code of Conduct 10. Ethics: A State of Being 11. Anthropocentrism 12. Hybridity Part 3: The Sustainable Society 13. Limits to Growth 14. Possible Positions 15. More Problems with Growth 16. Questioning Consumption 17. Energy 18. Trade and Travel 19. Work 20. Bioregionalism 21. Agriculture 22. Diversity 23. Decentralization and its Limits Part 4: Strategies for Green Change 24. Democracy and Authoritarianism 25. Action Through and Around the Legislature 26. Lifestyle 27. Communities 28. Direct Action 29. Fiscal Incentives and Ecological Citizenship 30. Class 31. Conclusion Part 5: Ecologism and Other Ideologies 32. Liberalism 33. Conservatism 34. Socialism 35. Feminism 36. Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

Reviews from the second edition:

'This is the best text yet written on the subject.' - Times Educational Supplement

'Green Political Thought confirms Andrew Dobson's status as a leading teacher and thinker of ecological thought.' - Environmental Politics

'If you thought you knew what green politics was all about, the arguments [this book] contains will probably come as a surprise.' - Talking Politics

'Green Political Thought remains the definitive text on the political ideology of ecologism. Indeed, it has now acquired the status of a classic in the field. In this fourth edition, the distinctive features of ecologism remain as sharply etched as they were in the first edition but Dobson has revised and updated the rich variety of internal debates among green political theorists and activists, including a shift in focus from ethics to politics, and from radical resistance to ‘visionary pragmatism’. - Robyn Eckersley, University of Melbourne, Australia

'Andy Dobson first made his statement about a green ideology sixteen years ago, and it quickly became the book on environmental political thought, against which all others were compared. In this new edition, (Andy) Dobson's thorough and lucid account of "ecologism" once again sets the standard. It should be the first place to turn for a comprehensive picture of ecological thought and the arguments in the field.' - David Schlosberg, Northern Arizona University, USA

From the Publisher