Awards

• Nominated for George Perkins Marsh Prize 2016
• Nominated for Herbert Jacob Book Prize 2016
• Nominated for James Willard Hurst Prize 2016

Overview

The first Earth Day in 1970 marked environmentalism's coming-of-age in the United States. More than four decades later, does the green movement remain a transformative force in American life? Presenting a new account from a legal perspective, Environment in the Balance interprets a wide range of U.S. Supreme Court decisions, along with social science research and the literature of the movement, to gauge the practical and cultural impact of environmentalism and its future prospects. Jonathan Z. Cannon demonstrates that from the 1960s onward, the Court's rulings on such legal issues as federalism, landowners' rights, standing, and the scope of regulatory authority have reflected deep-seated cultural differences brought out by the mass movement to protect the environment. In the early years, environmentalists won some important victories, such as the Supreme Court's 1973 decision allowing them to sue against barriers to recycling. But over time the Court has become more skeptical of their claims and more solicitous of values embodied in private property rights, technological mastery and economic growth, and limited government. Today, facing the looming threat of global warming, environmentalists struggle to break through a cultural stalemate that threatens their goals. Cannon describes the current ferment in the movement, and chronicles efforts to broaden its cultural appeal while staying connected to its historical roots, and to ideas of nature that have been the source of its distinctive energy and purpose.

Full Product Details

9780674736788

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Reviews

Highly persuasive and insightful. Cannon reveals how the Supreme Court s opinions reflect a larger culture war over environmentalism in American society. The scope and depth of his analysis is remarkable, and it allows him to offer a series of lessons for environmentalists hoping to meet the challenges of the future.--Daniel Farber, University of California, Berkeley

An outstanding and important book. Cannon approaches environmental law as both legal expert and humanist, seeking always the broad cultural context in which to view the Supreme Court's uncertain ecological jurisprudence. He is an intent and perceptive reader of the Court's decisions and what goes into them. He is also a fluent and convincing writer. Environment in the Balance will be widely read and largely influential.--Peter Brooks, Princeton University Highly persuasive and insightful. Cannon reveals how the Supreme Court's opinions reflect a larger culture war over environmentalism in American society. The scope and depth of his analysis is remarkable, and it allows him to offer a series of lessons for environmentalists hoping to meet the challenges of the future.--Daniel Farber, University of California, Berkeley Relying mainly on seminal Supreme Court cases, Cannon discusses environmental law in a way that enables general readers to follow and understand the reasoning but includes plenty of footnotes for advanced readers... This book will make a great resource for environmental, constitutional, or administrative law students at graduate or undergraduate levels.--J. M. Keller Choice (10/01/2015)

An outstanding and important book. Cannon approaches environmental law as both legal expert and humanist, seeking always the broad cultural context in which to view the Supreme Court s uncertain ecological jurisprudence. He is an intent and perceptive reader of the Court s decisions and what goes into them. He is also a fluent and convincing writer. Environment in the Balance will be widely read and largely influential.--Peter Brooks, Princeton University

Author Information

Jonathan Z. Cannon is Blaine T. Phillips Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law and Director of the Environmental and Land Use Law Program at the University of Virginia School of Law.

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