Table Of Content

i “The premier text in this area, the fourth edition of Environmental Sociology covers important new topics, such as the climate emergency, the significance of oceans and the interrelation of indigenous relations with environmentalism. The book provides a theor- etically cohesive and engaging global analysis of environmental policy and action, of value to students and researchers alike.” David Tindell, Professor of Sociology, University of British Columbia, Canada “John Hannigan’s Environmental Sociology is an excellent introduction to environmental sociology. It provides both a general understanding of environmental issues as well as how environmental concerns become environmental problems that society must deal with. It should be read by anyone who is interested not just in the state of the environment, but how it gets attention and thus calls for action.” Rolf Lidskog, Professor of Sociology, Örebro University, Sweden “This fascinating book explains the ways in which the assemblage and communication of knowledge claims underpin how specific environmental matters become issues of public concern. A foundational text, Environmental Sociology critically maps out the power and influences that shape our understandings of environment and society, in the process incorporating discussion of Indigenous knowledge systems, acknowledging the unher- alded insights of historical figures and highlighting the importance of expanding our knowledge frontiers to the oceans and beyond. Thoughtful and thought- provoking, it is a must read.” Rob White, Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Criminology, University of Tasmania, Australia ii iii Environmental Sociology John Hannigan’s definitive textbook offers a distinctive, balanced coverage of environmental issues, policies and action. This revised fourth edition has been expanded and fully updated to explore contemporary developments and issues within global environmental sociology. Environmental Sociology reconciles Hannigan’s widely cited model of the social construction of environmental problems and controversies, which states that incipient environmental issues must be identified, researched, promoted and persuasively argued in the form of “claims”, with an environmental justice perspective that stresses inequality and threats to local communities. For example, this new edition explores the interconnections between indigenous communities and environmental activists via a study of the diffi- cult relationship between Aboriginal people and environmentalists in Australia. The updated fourth edition also discusses new direct action protest groups, such as Extinction Rebellion, who have reframed the discourse around the “climate emergency” using apoca- lyptic language and imagery. Environmental Sociology also signposts exciting new directions for future research. The fourth edition re- interrogates the classical roots of environmental theory with a focus of the work of Alexander von Humboldt. Hannigan also asserts the need for environmental sociologists to turn their attention to “The Forgotten Ocean”, arguing that the discipline should incorporate cutting-e dge concepts such as marine justice, striated space and volumetrics. Environmental Sociology is a key text for students and researchers in environmental studies, political ecology, social geography and environmental sociology. John Hannigan is Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto, Scarborough, Canada. His research focuses on environmental issues, the geopolitics of oceans and urban political economy. He is the author of three previous editions of Environmental Sociology (Routledge, 1995, 2006 and 2014), Fantasy City: Pleasure and Profit in the Postmodern City (Routledge, 1998), Disasters Without Borders: The International Politics of Natural Disasters (2012), The Geopolitics of Deep Oceans (2015), and Rise of the Spectacular: America in the 1950s (Routledge, 2021). He is also co-e ditor (with Greg Richard) of The SAGE Handbook of New Urban Studies (2017). iv v Environmental Sociology Fourth Edition John Hannigan vi Cover image: Getty Images (iantfoto) Fourth edition published 2023 by Routledge 4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business © 2023 John Hannigan The right of John Hannigan to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. First edition published by Routledge 1995 Third edition published by Routledge 2014 British Library Cataloguing- in- Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data A catalog record has been requested for this book ISBN: 978-1-032-04558-0 (hbk) ISBN: 978- 1- 032- 04559- 7 (pbk) ISBN: 978- 1- 003- 19377- 7 (ebk) DOI: 10.4324/9781003193777 Typeset in Bembo by Newgen Publishing UK vii To Ruth, as always viii ix Contents List of figures x List of tables xi List of abbreviations xii Preface and acknowledgements xiv 1 Planet in peril 1 2 Environmental sociology: key perspectives and controversies 19 3 Social construction of environmental issues and problems 53 4 Environmental discourse 76 5 Media and environmental communication 104 6 Science, knowledge and environmental problems 126 7 Risk construction 144 8 Biodiversity loss: the successful “career” of a global environmental problem 160 9 Fear of fracking 180 10 Conclusion 196 Notes 204 Name index 211 Subject index 217