Deliberative Environmental Politics: Democracy and Ecological Rationality (Mit Press) - Softcover

Baber, Walter F; Bartlett, Associate Professor Political Science Robert V

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0262524449 ISBN 13: 9780262524445

Publisher: MIT Press, 2005

Synopsis

In Deliberative Environmental Politics, Walter Baber and Robert Bartlett link political theory with the practice of environmental politics, arguing that the "deliberative turn" in democratic theory presents an opportunity to move beyond the policy stalemates of interest-group liberalism and offers a foundation for reconciling rationality, strong democracy, and demanding environmentalism. Deliberative democracy, which presumes that the essence of democracy is deliberation―thoughtful and discursive public participation in decision making―rather than voting, interest aggregation, or rights, has the potential to produce more environmentally sound policy decisions and a more ecologically rational form of environmental governance.

Baber and Bartlett defend deliberative democracy's relevance to environmental politics in the twenty-first century against criticisms from other theorists. They critically examine three major models for deliberative democracy―those of John Rawls, Jurgen Habermas, and advocates of full liberalism such as Amy Gutmann, Dennis Thompson, and James Bohman―and analyze the implications of each of these approaches for ecologically rational environmental politics as well as for institutions, citizens, experts, and social movements. In order to establish that democracy is ecologically sustainable and that environmental protection can (and must) become a norm of culture rather than a mere fact of government, they argue, new models of ecological deliberation and deliberative environmentalism are required.

About this title

About the Author:

Walter F. Baber is Professor in the Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration at California State University, Long Beach. Baber and Bartlett are the coauthors of Deliberative Environmental Politics: Democracy and Ecological Rationality and Global Democracy and Sustainable Jurisprudence: Deliberative Environmental Law, both published by the MIT Press.

Review:

-- Edward P. Weber, Washington State University

--John S. Dryzek, Professor, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University

" This important book fills a gap in the existing environmental studies, policy, and politics literature. The authors are correct in arguing that for too long environmental ethics has been distant from practical environmental decision-making." -- Edward P. Weber, Washington State University

" Baber and Bartlett offer a wonderful appreciation of the subtleties of deliberative democracy and environmental politics." --Robert Paehlke, Trent University

" Baber and Bartlett tackle many of the most important issues in environmental politics, advancing a coherent and original point of view in a treatment that will become essential reading for scholars and students in the field." --John S. Dryzek, Professor, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University

& quot; Baber and Bartlett offer a wonderful appreciation of the subtleties of deliberative democracy and environmental politics.& quot; --Robert Paehlke, Trent University

& quot; This important book fills a gap in the existing environmental studies, policy, and politics literature. The authors are correct in arguing that for too long environmental ethics has been distant from practical environmental decision-making.& quot; -- Edward P. Weber, Washington State University

& quot; Baber and Bartlett tackle many of the most important issues in environmental politics, advancing a coherent and original point of view in a treatment that will become essential reading for scholars and students in the field.& quot; --John S. Dryzek, Professor, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University

"Baber and Bartlett tackle many of the most important issues in environmental politics, advancing a coherent and original point of view in a treatment that will become essential reading for scholars and students in the field."--John S. Dryzek, Professor, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University

"This important book fills a gap in the existing environmental studies, policy, and politics literature. The authors are correct in arguing that for too long environmental ethics has been distant from practical environmental decision-making."--Edward P. Weber, Washington State University

About this edition

• Publisher: MIT Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0262524449
• ISBN 13: 9780262524445
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 276