Politics of the Earth

Written by an internationally recognised expert in the field, The Politics of the Earth provides an authoritative and engaging introduction to environmental politics through a unique, discourse-centred approach. With his lively and accessible writing style, John S. Dryzek analyses how we construct and interpret the environment through language, guiding the reader through the discourses that dominate this arena, including ecological limits, sustainability and green radicalism.

The fourth edition has been thoroughly updated to take in key developments in environmental affairs, including an examination of the implications of the Anthropocene concept and need for ecological reflexivity, with updated coverage of the Paris Agreement on climate change and Sustainable Development Goals, weaving in throughout a wealth of contemporary examples to illuminate the discussion. It also contains a ground-breaking new chapter on 'Gray Radicalism', in which the author provides an innovative overview and analysis of this contemporary radical anti-environmental discourse.

Students are further supported with added further reading sections and new end-of-chapter discussion questions, which are designed to encourage critical thinking and prompt a deeper engagement with the issues at hand.

John S. Dryzek, Professor of Political Science at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at the University of Canberra's Institute for Governance and Global Analysis

John S. Dryzek is Centenary Professor at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at the University of Canberra's Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, former Head of the Departments of Political Science at the
Universities of Oregon and Melbourne and the Social and Political Theory program at the Australian National University, and former editor of the Australian Journal of Political Science

Part I Introduction
1. Making Sense of Earth's Politics: A Discourse Approach
Part II Global Limits and their Denial
2. Looming Tragedy: Limits, Boundaries, Survival
3. Growth Unlimited: The Promethean Response
Part III Solving Environmental Problems
4. Leave it to the Experts: Administrative Rationalism
5. Leave it to the People: Democratic Pragmatism
6. Leave it to the Market: Economic Rationalism
Part IV The Quest for Sustainability
7. Greener Growth: Sustainable Development
8. Industrial Society and Beyond: Ecological Modernization
Part V Radicalism
9. Changing People: Green Consciousness
10. New Society: Green Politics
11. Backlash: Gray Radicalism
Part VI Conclusion
12. Encountering the Anthropocene