Sociology, Environmentalism, Globalization

Steven Yearley is Professor of Sociology at the University of York; author of Science and Sociological Practice (Open University Press, 1984), Science Technology and Social Change (Unwin Hyman, 1988) and The Green Case: A Sociology of Environmental Arguments, Issues and Politics (Harper Collins, 1991); editor of Deciphering Science and Technology (with M McNeill and I Varcoe), and Protecting the Periphery: Environmental Policy in Peripheral Regions of the European Union (with S Baker and K Milton).

`The central theme at the heart of Yearley′s very useful and welcome book is that while the links beteen globalisation and environmentalism appear to be both fundamental and indeed inevitable, in practice, and more often than not, they are highly problematical′ - Work, Employment & Society`Yearley′s book begins with an apparentley absurd but skillfully developed discourse on what the idea of "giving money to the planet", taken from the top of a yoghurt pot means. This entirely justifies his bold subtitle and sets the scene for a survey of how useful sociological theories of globalization are in approaching the main problems of theorizing and researching the environment.... [Yearley] constructs some interesting arguments about globalization.... Yearley is correct in his assertion that very few globalization theorists have grappled with the environment as a research site, and this brief and lean book should show more of them what a rich site it is′ - British Journal of Sociology`The book deals with and improves our ability to deal with global issues and helps build the strength to transform international institutions into interactive bodies. The book will be essential reading for negotiators, political theorists, sociologists, environmental activists, and scientists alike, broadening their horizons′ - Business Line`Yearley takes a long look at the way in which ideas such as "think globally, act locally" spring from a mistaken assumption that we all mean the same thing when we discuss the world or global problems.... [Yearley] asserts that in capturing the moral high ground by claiming the planet for themselves, environmentalists are ignoring the fragmented nature of many of the problems they want to reslove. And the emotional construct hangs around the notion that we are all global now, united in the defence of planet Earth, obscures the real forces acting to damage the environment. Even the role of science as arbiter of quarrels about pollution, for example, is questioned′ - New Scientist

• The Sociology of GlobalizationEnvironmental Issues and the Compression of the GlobeHow Do the World′s Environmental Problems Come to Be `Global′?Universalizing Discourses and GlobalizationRethinking the Global