Issues in Environmental Politics
1 total work
This work, based on over 60 interviews (between 1986 and 1990) with politicians from each of the major British political parties, is concerned with an examination of the environmentalism/politics interface and how the major parties are responding in real terms to the environmental challenge. In order to supplement the interviews and party policy statements, the author looks at "green" briefing documents, speeches and key articles connected with the major parties. In particular, the author is interested in how early 70s stated concerns of the various parties and their spokespersons have translated into late 80s and early 90s commitment and action. The thesis that underlies this book is that environmentalism has manoeuvred itself into the position of being a major force for change in British society and that, as such, it needs to be examined in the context of a peculiarly British social movement operating in a political culture which specializes in accommodation and reform rather than in challenges and conflicts.