E-Book Overview
This interdisciplinary book challenges current approaches to “environmental problems” that perpetuate flawed but deeply embedded cultural beliefs about the role of science and technology in society. The authors elucidate and interrogate a cultural history of solutionism that typifies expectations that science can, should, and will reduce risk to people and property by containing and controlling biophysical phenomena. Using historical analysis, eco-evolutionary principles, and case studies on floods, radioactive waste, and epidemics, the authors show that perceived solutions to “environmental problems” generate new problems, leading to problem-solution cycles of increasing scope and complexity. The authors encourage readers to challenge the ideology of solutionism by considering the potential of language, social action and new paradigms of sustainability to shape management systems. This book will appeal to scholars in multi- and interdisciplinary fields such as Environment Studies, Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, and Science, Technology, and Society Studies.
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Environmental Realism “The authors offer a bracing synthesis of particular case studies of environmental ‘solutionism’ in action and theoretical research into the complex ways that human societies and biophysical environments have developed and interacted over time.” —Vera Norwood, Emerita Professor, University of New Mexico, US Kristan Cockerill • Melanie Armstrong • Jennifer Richter • Jordan G. Okie Environmental Realism Challenging Solutions Kristan Cockerill Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina, USA Melanie Armstrong Western State Colorado University Gunnison, Colorado, USA Jennifer Richter Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona, USA Jordan G. Okie Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona, USA ISBN 978-3-319-52823-6 DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-52824-3 ISBN 978-3-319-52824-3 (eBook) Library of Congress Control Number: 2017931683 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2017 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Cover pattern © Melisa Hasan Printed on acid-free paper This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We are indebted to everyone with whom we shared the idea for this work. Initial reactions and questions helped us hone our argument and our examples. We are especially grateful to our colleagues Wylie Cox, Majia Nadesan, and Vera Norwood for their honest and though