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Explore the intricate dynamics of environmental politics, from humanity's historical struggle with nature to visions of the future. Discover the complexities of human-nature relationships, resource limitations, and contrasting perspectives on sustainability. Delve into the laws of ecology and the underlying rules of politics, all through the lens of social science.
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Political Science 306 Environmental Politics
What is it? Environment The combination of external physical conditions that affect and influence the growth, development, and survival of organism The complex of social and cultural conditions affecting the nature of an individual or community. Environmental Of, relating to, or associated with the environment; Relating to or being concerned with the ecological impact of altering the environment Politics The art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs. Who gets what, when and how
What is Policy A plan or course of action, as of a government, political party, or business, intended to influence and determine decisions, actions, and other matters Environmental policy seeks to manage human actions upon the natural world and the use of natural resources. As such it seeks to take action today based on assumptions of future events
Humans vs. Nature (Part 1) For most of human history humanity was dependent upon nature and, as a result, we had to recognize limits or face the consequences Deforestation=Erosion = loss of fertility = famine Not farming correctly = crop failure = famine Over hunting = loss of game= famine Religions began as attempts to influence the natural world (weather, harvests, hunts etc)
Humans vs. Nature (Part 2) The industrial and agricultural revolutions changed the balance between humans and the natural world Use of fossil fuel energy replaced animal and human labor Fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, mechanized farming allowed for massive expansions in population Nature was under the control of humans – not the other way around
Are there limits………. To how many people the earth can support; To how many trees you can cut; To how many fish you can catch; To how much water you can divert from rivers; To how much oil and gas can be produced; To how much pollution the earth can absorb?
If there are limits, what does that mean for our modern way of life? • Has humanity conquered nature?
Visions of the Future • "We look at the past through the prism of the present and try to discern the future." • Holocaust historian, Lucy Davidowicz • People tend to interpret the past and project onto the future a view that reinforces their current beliefs.
The Jetsons • Even if humanity is damaging the environment (and it is a big if), we will use technology to solve those problems and create an even better world • Popular with people who tend to support the status quo.
Mad Max • Overpopulation and over use of resources will create a Hobbesian, dog-eat-dog future and the collapse of civilization as we know it. • Appeals to people less invested in the status quo (with lots of guns and fast cars?) who favor an individualist perspective. (Right wing – anti-establishment)
Hobbiton • The exploitation of the earth and its resources will cause economic and social collapse but the current system will be replaced with a sustainable more simple lifestyle • Appeals to people less invested in the status quo who oppose the current globalized, corporate centered economy and come from a communalist (Left-wing anti establishment) perspective.
The Rapture • All the problems we now face are signs that the end of History is near. The faithful will be raptured up to heaven, leaving the unfaithful to face the tribulations and the final battle between good and evil. Our use of resources really doesn’t make any difference • Appeals to some Evangelical Christians but a group which has been a very politically influential minority.
Commoner’s Laws of Ecology • The First Law: Everything is connected to everything else • No one species, or element can be viewed in isolation • Any one component can disrupt the ecosystem • The Second Law: Everything must go somewhere – nothing disappears when it is thrown away
The Third Law: Nature knows best • Ecosystems have evolved over billions of years with complex interactions humans do not fully understand. • Human attempts to manage frequently backfire • The Fourth Law: There is no such thing as a free lunch • Interactions with nature carry a cost • “Payment cannot be avoided – it can only be delayed.”
Rules of Politics • There is no such thing as a free lunch • Nothing is as simple as it seems. • Everyone is biased. • If it were easy to do it would already have been done. • We are all entitled to our own opinions but not our own facts
General Reminders for Students of Social Science • Opinion does not equal knowledge • Intensity of opinion does not always equal the validity of the opinion • Understanding does not equal excusing • Social science strives to be neutral with regards to culture and secular with regards to religion • Bias is inherent and unavoidable in examining human behavior
Facts and Cognitive Dissonance“Reality has a liberal bias.” Steven Colbert • In the US the belief that problems such as resource depletion, climate change, and pollution exist has come to be seen as for the most part a liberal position • This is not the case in other developed countries, although certain policy proposals to address those problems are correctly seen as ideological
Basic Themes of the Course(and your instructor’s bias therein) • Different perspectives on environmental policy are not right or wrong or good or evil but reflective of political values and views of nature. • The environmental crises we face are the result of interconnected problems and, thus, any specific problem cannot be addressed in an isolated fashion or in isolated locations. • While significant policy change is difficult to achieve, it can be achieved if the circumstances are favorable to it and that it must be achieved in the near future if the global ecosystem is to be preserved in a recognized form.
Conflict in Values = Conflict in Politics • Popular view of Values • Liberty/freedom • Self Government • Equality • Individualism • Diversity • Unity • Moral behavior • Political Science View : Conflicts between freedom, order and equality
Political Ideologies • Libertarians value freedom from government restrictions more than they value order and equality. They wish to be free of government interference. • Conservatives value order more than they value freedom or equality. They favor government actions that impose social order and oppose those that promote redistribution of wealth. • Liberals favor freedom unless it conflicts with equality. They oppose restrictions on individual liberties but favor policies that promote equality. • Communitarians favor order unless it conflicts with equality. They favor government policies that impose order and policies that promote equality. Emphasis is on community working together for the common good
Views of Nature Nature Perverse/Tolerant Nature Capricious Nature Resilient Nature Fragile Schwartz and Thompson, Divided We Stand
The Four Political Cultures High Level of Government- Order Fatalistic Hierarchical Individual emphasis Communal emphasis Egalitarian Entrepreneurial Low Level of Government- Freedom Schwartz and Thompson, Divided We Stand
Environmental Values Aesthetical Value – preserve nature because it is beautiful “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” John Muir Founder of the Sierra Club
Resource Value – conserve so that resources will continue to be available “Conservation is the foresighted utilization, preservation and/or renewal of forests, waters, lands and minerals, for the greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time.” Gifford Pinchot First head of the Forest Service
Recreational Value- maintain natural areas so people can experience the natural world Steven Mather • American Industrialist and first head of the National Park Service • Worked with auto industry to promote car friendly parks • Also encouraged golf courses, amusement rides – “parks need people”
Inherent Value – preserve nature and species because we are just one part of it and we have no right to dominate it “We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” Aldo Leopold
Survival Value – preserve nature because our lives depend upon it “If we fail to curb global heating, the planet could massively and cruelly cull us, in the same merciless way that we have eliminated so many species by changing their environment….” James Lovelock
Environmental policy conflicts are best viewed as conflicts between competing values rather that between good and evil. • Although policy positions can change, it is very difficult to get people to change their underlying values.
Homer Dixon’s Tectonic Stresses • Population stress- different growth rates in rich and poor countries and growth of megacities;
Environmental stress – damage to land, water, forests and fisheries
