Dirt Persuasion: Civic Environmental Populism and the Heartland's Pipeline Fight

Dirt Persuasion is an outstanding academic title that examines the fight over the Keystone XL Pipeline, highlighting the complex interplay of resources extraction industries, grassroots environmentalism, and advocacy. It provides a compelling case study of the Nebraska's years-long fight against pipeline company TransCanada, challenging political and business leaders at the state, national, and international levels. The book sheds light on the activism practices of social movements and the changing environments in which they are deployed, emphasizing the rural dimension of environmental activism. It also explores the role of populism, rhetorical appeals, strategic advocacy framing, and media framing in the pipeline debate, leading to a civic environmental persuasion built on narrative, engagement, hyperlocalization, and bipartisanship.

Format: Hardback
Length: 246 pages
Publication date: 23 May 2022
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

The 2023 Nebraska Book Award has been presented to Dirt Persuasion, an outstanding academic title that delves into a crucial period in U.S. environmental politics. The book explores the complex interplay between resource extraction industries, grassroots environmentalism, and advocacy, transforming the role of activists in the contemporary public sphere. The book provides a compelling case study of the Bold Nebraska's years-long fight against pipeline company TransCanada, challenging political and business leaders at the state, national, and international levels.

Dirt Persuasion sheds light on the activism practices of social movements and the changing environments in which they are deployed. The KXL Pipeline fight represents a watershed moment for both U.S. energy politics and the communication of environmental activism. The rural dimension of this environmental saga is critical, as environmentalism must be understood from the perspective of rural Americans who coexist with one of the planet's most delicate ecologies.

Populism, rhetorical appeals, strategic advocacy framing, and media framing all play prominent roles in the pipeline debate, leading to a civic environmental persuasion built on narrative, engagement, hyperlocalization, and bipartisanship to build broad stakeholder support and influence public policy.

The 2023 Nebraska Book Award recognizes Dirt Persuasion's contribution to understanding the complex dynamics of environmental activism and its impact on public policy. The book is a valuable resource for scholars, activists, and policymakers interested in environmental issues and the role of grassroots movements in shaping our world.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496208392