Publisher Description

Fairness and Futurity: Essays on Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice brings together leading international figures in political theory and sociology, as well as representatives from the political community, to consider the normative issues at stake in the relationship between environmental sustainability and social justice. It raises important questions and sets out to provide the answers. If future generations are owedjustice, what should we bequeath them? Is `sustainability' an appropriate medium for environmentalists to express their demands? Is environmental protection compatible with intra-generational justice? Isenvironmental sustainability a luxury when social peace has broken down? These essays emerged from three intensive seminars that involved participants in constant re-evaluations of their work, and which bought three distinct groups--environmental theorists, `mainstream' political theorists, and policy community members--into fruitful contact. In particular, the attempt to involve `mainstream' theorists in environmental questions, and to encourage environmentalists touse intellectual resources of political theory, should be highlighted.

Author Biography

Andrew Dobson is at Keele University.

Table of Contents

Andrew Dobson: IntroductionPART ONE1: Michael Jacobs: Sustainable Development as a Contested Concept2: Alan Holland: Sustainability: Should We Start from Here?PART TWO3: Wilfred Beckerman: Sustainable Development and Our Obligations to Future4: Brian Barry: Sustainability and Intergenerational Justice5: Bryan Norton: Ecology and Opportunity: Intergenerational Equity and Sustainable Options6: David Miller: Social Justice and Environmental Goods7: Marcel Wissenburg: An Extension of the Rawlsian Savings Principle to Liberal Theories of Justice in General8: Ted Benton: Sustainable Development and Accumulation of Capital: Reconciling the IrreconcilablePART THREE9: Stephen Tindale and Chris Hewett: Must the Poor pay More? Sustainable Development, Social Justice, and Environmental Taxation10: Koos Neefjes: Ecological Degradation: A Cause for Conflict, a Concern for SurvivalIndex

Review

`Andrew Dobson is to be commended on his ability to assemble a volume that revisits environmental sustainability and social justice. The collection is significant in at least four ways. First, it is a compendium of cutting-edge theory, research and public policy. Second, the studies reported in this collection make a significant gain in mainstreaming sustainability issues. Third, the book itself contributes to consciousness raising and consequently attemptsto ameliorate the injustices it documents. Fourth, this book will be particularly challenging to advanced students interested in the topics that range from the conceputal roots of sustainability to thefuturistic implications of injustice and environmental sustainability.'The Great Plains Sociologists, vol.12, no.1`A welcome contribution to the debate, especially to the complex relationship between sustainability and social justice ... this book is an important reading for all those who are genuinely interested in sustainability, sustainable development and social justice and their often problematic relationship.'Asghar Ali, Environmental Politics`quite a heartening impression of environmental issues ... this book fills a number of gaps ... the book offers significant theoretical help in addressing connections that have previously been under-developed and deserves an international audience as such.'Piers H.G.Stephens`many an idea lies fallow until its time has come and collections like this from leaders in the field may well be the seed-beds which will in time produce the new green shoots that we all have no doubt that we need.'I. G. Simmons, International Journal of Environmental Studies 2000 Vol.57

Long Description

Fairness and Futurity: Essays on Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice brings together leading international figures in political theory and sociology, as well as representatives from the political community, to consider the normative issues at stake in the relationship between environmental sustainability and social justice. It raises important questions and sets out to provide the answers. If future generations are owed
justice, what should we bequeath them? Is `sustainability' an appropriate medium for environmentalists to express their demands? Is environmental protection compatible with intra-generational justice? Is environmental sustainability a luxury when social peace has broken down? These
essays emerged from three intensive seminars that involved participants in constant re-evaluations of their work, and which bought three distinct groups--environmental theorists, `mainstream' political theorists, and policy community members--into fruitful contact. In particular, the attempt to involve `mainstream' theorists in environmental questions, and to encourage environmentalists to use intellectual resources of political theory, should be highlighted.

Review Text

`Andrew Dobson is to be commended on his ability to assemble a volume that revisits environmental sustainability and social justice. The collection is significant in at least four ways. First, it is a compendium of cutting-edge theory, research and public policy. Second, the studies reported in this collection make a significant gain in mainstreaming sustainability issues. Third, the book itself contributes to consciousness raising and consequently attempts
to ameliorate the injustices it documents. Fourth, this book will be particularly challenging to advanced students interested in the topics that range from the conceputal roots of sustainability to the futuristic implications of injustice and environmental sustainability.'
The Great Plains Sociologists, vol.12, no.1
`A welcome contribution to the debate, especially to the complex relationship between sustainability and social justice ... this book is an important reading for all those who are genuinely interested in sustainability, sustainable development and social justice and their often problematic relationship.'
Asghar Ali, Environmental Politics
`quite a heartening impression of environmental issues ... this book fills a number of gaps ... the book offers significant theoretical help in addressing connections that have previously been under-developed and deserves an international audience as such.'
Piers H.G.Stephens
`many an idea lies fallow until its time has come and collections like this from leaders in the field may well be the seed-beds which will in time produce the new green shoots that we all have no doubt that we need.'
I. G. Simmons, International Journal of Environmental Studies 2000 Vol.57

Review Quote

'quite a heartening impression of environmental issues ... this book fillsa number of gaps ... the book offers significant theoretical help in addressingconnections that have previously been under-developed and deserves aninternational audience as such.'Piers H.G.Stephens

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