Rethinking the American Environmental Movement post-1945

Rethinking the American Environmental Movement post-1945 explores environmentalism as a field of movements rooted in broader social justice activism, focusing on the decades since World War II. It outlines the key precursors, events, participants, and strategies of the movement, contextualizing it in the dramatic trajectory of U.S. history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 274 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2019
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Rethinking the American Environmental Movement post-1945: A New Interpretive Lens

The study of the American environmental movement post-1945 offers a fresh perspective on the past, drawing on a diverse range of new histories of environmental activism to analyze the actions of those who created the movement and those who sought to thwart it.

Focusing on the decades since World War II, environmental historian Ellen Griffith Spears explores environmentalism as a field of movements rooted in broader social justice activism. She acknowledges the significant legislative accomplishments, strengths, and contributions of the environmental movement, as well as the divisions within its ranks. Through her comprehensive analysis, the book reveals how new scientific developments, the nuclear threat, pollution, and changes in urban living spurred activism among diverse populations.

The book outlines the key precursors, events, participants, and strategies of the environmental movement, providing a comprehensive account of its development. It contextualizes the story within the dramatic trajectory of U.S. history after World War II, offering a synthesis of American environmental politics that one reader described as ambitious in its scope and concise in its presentation.

This book serves as an invaluable resource for students and scholars interested in understanding one of the largest social movements of the twentieth century, extending from the early conservation efforts to the robust climate movement of today. It provides a succinct overview of the movement's history, key figures, and strategies, making it an essential read for anyone seeking to deepen their knowledge of this critical topic.

Weight: 398g
Dimension: 154 x 227 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780415529587