Overview

Many writers either glorify globalization or vilify it, particularly for its destructive environmental effects. In this book environmental sociologist Arthur Mol seeks to provide a more balanced understanding of the relationship between globalization and environmental quality. Mol bases his arguments on his theory of ecological modernization, which holds that although processes of modernization and globalization often result in environmental degradation, they also can encourage policies and programmes designed to arrest degradation and improve environmental quality. Building on earlier ecological modernization studies that focused on Europe, North America, and East and Southeast Asia, Mol takes here a more global perspective. He also addresses the increasing roles of nonstate actors, especially international institutions, nongovernmental organizations, popular movements, and transnational corporations. After examining the confusion created by the failure to distinguish among globalization, global capitalism, and neoliberalism, Mol analyzes both globalization's destructive environmental consequences and its contribution to global environmental reform. Elaborating on the subject of reform, he focuses on three case studies, one involving the economic triad of the European Union, the NAFTA region, and Japan; one involving the relationship between the triad and developing countries; and one involving three developing countries: Vietnam, the Netherlands Antilles, and Kenya.

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9780262133951

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Reviews

This book provides a stimulating analysis of ecological modernization in the context of globalization. Globalization and Environmental Reform is the most important introduction to modern environmental policy yet published. - Martin Jaenicke, Head of the Environmental Policy Research Unit (FFU), Department of Political and Social Sciences, Free University of Berlin, Germany, and member of the German Council of Environmental Advisors

Author Information

Arthur P. J. Mol is Chair and Professor of Environmental Sociology and Professor of Environmental Policy in the Department of Social Sciences at Wageningen University.

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