Politics and the Environment - From Theory to Practice

This is the second edition of a critically acclaimed textbook from which the general reader can learn a great deal. It begins with an account of environmental philosophy and green ideology, where the authors make the point that green politics rests on two fundamental premises: the finite nature of the planet's resources and an ethical awareness of humanity's relations with the non-human world. They discuss the environment movement, the background to environmental policy as well as issues arising from environmental governance. The authors are sceptical that reform of the existing system through technical means - even as expressed in the Dutch National Environmental Policy Plan - will be sufficient. They therefore do not believe in the efficacy of 'ecological modernisation' but contend that we must return to the fundamental insights already mentioned. They suggest means of 'ecological democratisation', which will allow pressure to be exerted from below to implement a raftof measures that can be implemented for the common good. Apart from the quality of the analysis in this book, the excellent case studies engage the reader in the practicalities of live issues. A real primer for environmental politics.