John S. Dryzek, David Downes, Christian Hunold, David Schlosberg, and Hans‐Kristian Hernes
- Published in print:
- 2003
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199249022
- eISBN:
- 9780191599095
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199249024.003.0007
- Subject:
- Political Science, Environmental Politics
Ecological modernization now suggests that environmental values can be attached to the state's core economic imperative, while Ulrich Beck's risk society thesis suggests an environmental attachment ...
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Ecological modernization now suggests that environmental values can be attached to the state's core economic imperative, while Ulrich Beck's risk society thesis suggests an environmental attachment to the state's core legitimation imperative. These developments could add up to a conservation imperative of the state—the green state—though no state is yet close to this situation. Norway has entrenched ecological modernization in a moderate weak form. Germany is closest to a strong form of ecological modernization that, in combination with risk‐induced legitimation crisis, points the way to a more reflexive and democratic political economy. The US has the sort of movement that could facilitate such a transformation—but its state has moved in exactly the opposite direction, casting economic and environmental values in old‐fashioned conflictual terms. Even the UK at long last appears to be capable of taking on board some of the key precepts of ecological modernization and democratization.Less
Ecological modernization now suggests that environmental values can be attached to the state's core economic imperative, while Ulrich Beck's risk society thesis suggests an environmental attachment to the state's core legitimation imperative. These developments could add up to a conservation imperative of the state—the green state—though no state is yet close to this situation. Norway has entrenched ecological modernization in a moderate weak form. Germany is closest to a strong form of ecological modernization that, in combination with risk‐induced legitimation crisis, points the way to a more reflexive and democratic political economy. The US has the sort of movement that could facilitate such a transformation—but its state has moved in exactly the opposite direction, casting economic and environmental values in old‐fashioned conflictual terms. Even the UK at long last appears to be capable of taking on board some of the key precepts of ecological modernization and democratization.
John S. Dryzek, David Downes, Christian Hunold, David Schlosberg, and Hans-Kristian Hernes
- Published in print:
- 2003
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199249022
- eISBN:
- 9780191599095
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199249024.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Environmental Politics
Social movements take shape in relation to the kind of state they face, while, over time, states are transformed by the movements they both incorporate and resist. Social movements are central to ...
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Social movements take shape in relation to the kind of state they face, while, over time, states are transformed by the movements they both incorporate and resist. Social movements are central to democracy and democratization. This book examines the interaction between states and environmentalism, emblematic of contemporary social movements. The analysis covers the entire sweep of the modern environmental era that begins in the 1970s, emphasizing the comparative history of four countries: the US, UK, Germany, and Norway, each of which captures a particular kind of interest representation. Interest groups, parties, mass mobilizations, protest businesses, and oppositional public spheres vary in their weight and significance across the four countries. The book explains why the US was an environmental pioneer around 1970, why it was then eclipsed by Norway, why Germany now shows the way, and why the UK has been a laggard throughout. Ecological modernization and the growing salience of environmental risks mean that environmental conservation can now emerge as a basic priority of government, growing out of entrenched economic and legitimation imperatives. The end in view is a green state, on a par with earlier transformations that produced first the liberal capitalist state and then the welfare state. Any such transformation can be envisaged only to the extent environmentalism maintains its focus as a critical social movement that confronts as well as engages the state.Less
Social movements take shape in relation to the kind of state they face, while, over time, states are transformed by the movements they both incorporate and resist. Social movements are central to democracy and democratization. This book examines the interaction between states and environmentalism, emblematic of contemporary social movements. The analysis covers the entire sweep of the modern environmental era that begins in the 1970s, emphasizing the comparative history of four countries: the US, UK, Germany, and Norway, each of which captures a particular kind of interest representation. Interest groups, parties, mass mobilizations, protest businesses, and oppositional public spheres vary in their weight and significance across the four countries. The book explains why the US was an environmental pioneer around 1970, why it was then eclipsed by Norway, why Germany now shows the way, and why the UK has been a laggard throughout. Ecological modernization and the growing salience of environmental risks mean that environmental conservation can now emerge as a basic priority of government, growing out of entrenched economic and legitimation imperatives. The end in view is a green state, on a par with earlier transformations that produced first the liberal capitalist state and then the welfare state. Any such transformation can be envisaged only to the extent environmentalism maintains its focus as a critical social movement that confronts as well as engages the state.
Frank Fischer
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- July 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780199594917
- eISBN:
- 9780191842108
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780199594917.003.0006
- Subject:
- Political Science, Environmental Politics
This chapter extends the preceding discussion about environmental democracy to the question of the “green state.” Debates about the possibility of green democratic states raise relevant issues for an ...
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This chapter extends the preceding discussion about environmental democracy to the question of the “green state.” Debates about the possibility of green democratic states raise relevant issues for an assessment of democratic environmental prospects. For this reason, the chapter examines the theories of three leading environmental political theorists: Eckersley, Dryzek, and Barry. Although their works largely fall far short of identifying practical political openings for restructuring existing state institutions and practices, the issues and problems they raise remain instructive. The second half of the chapter assesses these concerns against broader contemporary political trends, in particular concerns about “democratic deficits” and the theories of “post-democracy” that have accompanied them. It examines the “ecological paradox” that a post-democratic politics poses for a sustainable transformation. These issues suggest that the pursuit of environmental democracy might best look for alternative locations outside of the state.Less
This chapter extends the preceding discussion about environmental democracy to the question of the “green state.” Debates about the possibility of green democratic states raise relevant issues for an assessment of democratic environmental prospects. For this reason, the chapter examines the theories of three leading environmental political theorists: Eckersley, Dryzek, and Barry. Although their works largely fall far short of identifying practical political openings for restructuring existing state institutions and practices, the issues and problems they raise remain instructive. The second half of the chapter assesses these concerns against broader contemporary political trends, in particular concerns about “democratic deficits” and the theories of “post-democracy” that have accompanied them. It examines the “ecological paradox” that a post-democratic politics poses for a sustainable transformation. These issues suggest that the pursuit of environmental democracy might best look for alternative locations outside of the state.
Daniel J. Fiorino
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- December 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780190605803
- eISBN:
- 9780190860318
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190605803.003.0004
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics, Environmental Politics
A weakness in the writing about green growth is inattention to governance. This chapter explores the evidence on the role of governance factors on ecological performance among countries. Although ...
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A weakness in the writing about green growth is inattention to governance. This chapter explores the evidence on the role of governance factors on ecological performance among countries. Although some critics doubt the ability of democratic systems to respond to difficult and complex ecological problems like climate change or ecosystem degradation, there are practical and normative reasons to seek more rather than less democracy. Specific institutional factors (federalist versus unitary or parliamentary versus separation of powers) may affect national performance. More influential in supporting effective ecological governance—and by extension a capacity for green growth—is the ability in a political system to build consensus on issues, integrate across policy sectors, and find positive relationships among ecological and economic goals. These lessons are applied to an analysis of the United States in later chapters.Less
A weakness in the writing about green growth is inattention to governance. This chapter explores the evidence on the role of governance factors on ecological performance among countries. Although some critics doubt the ability of democratic systems to respond to difficult and complex ecological problems like climate change or ecosystem degradation, there are practical and normative reasons to seek more rather than less democracy. Specific institutional factors (federalist versus unitary or parliamentary versus separation of powers) may affect national performance. More influential in supporting effective ecological governance—and by extension a capacity for green growth—is the ability in a political system to build consensus on issues, integrate across policy sectors, and find positive relationships among ecological and economic goals. These lessons are applied to an analysis of the United States in later chapters.
