The Political Prospects of a Sustainability Transformation: Moving Beyond the Environmental State

The emergence of the environmental state fifty years ago was a response to environmental pressures from rapid industrialization. However, with climate change and other ecological challenges, questions arise about the state's ability to transform societies into sustainable post-carbon ones. This book explores these questions from various theoretical and empirical angles, covering democratic theory, state theories, political economy, political sociology, rhetoric, and political philosophy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Half a century ago, a significant shift occurred in the response of democratic states to the mounting environmental pressures that emerged as a result of rapid industrialization. In an effort to address these challenges, these states established environmental ministries and agencies, and enacted legislation to regulate air and water pollution, as well as to oversee industrial processes, waste management, and the handling of toxic substances. This marked the emergence of the environmental state, a novel approach to governance that aimed to safeguard and preserve the natural environment.

However, as we navigate the complex and pressing issues of our time, such as climate change, which has reached unprecedented levels and threatens to fundamentally alter our planet, the traditional roles of the environmental state are being called into question. New questions about the state's capacity for transformation are emerging, particularly in light of the urgent need to transition towards sustainable post-carbon societies. These questions include: How significant is the state's ability to transform industrial societies into sustainable post-carbon entities? Does the state's expanded environmental functions empower it to prioritize ecological goals over economic growth? Can the state's environmental management capabilities be radicalized to transform it into a "sustainability state"? Can democracies be enhanced to expand the state's transformative capacities?

To explore these and other critical questions, The Political Prospects of a Sustainability Transformation: Moving Beyond the Environmental State takes a multi-faceted approach. Drawing from a diverse range of theoretical frameworks, including democratic theory, theories of the state, political economy, political sociology, rhetoric, and political philosophy, the book offers a comprehensive examination of the issues at hand. The chapters included in this volume were originally published as a special issue of the journal Environmental Politics, showcasing the cutting-edge research and insights of scholars in the field.

In conclusion, the environmental state has played a crucial role in shaping our understanding of environmental governance and in addressing the challenges posed by industrialization. However, as we confront the urgent need for sustainability transformation, it is clear that the traditional approaches to environmental management may not be sufficient. The Political Prospects of a Sustainability Transformation: Moving Beyond the Environmental State provides a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate by offering a comprehensive and interdisciplinary exploration of the state's role in fostering sustainable societies.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367676728