Pol 204 - Environmentalism:
Past, Present and Future
The history of environmentalism provides important insight into how social movements have responded to the powerful changes that have transformed (and continue to transform) the world around us. Despite its enormous influence as one of the most significant social movements of the 20th century, the environmentalism of the 21st century is going through a difficult period of transition and possible reinvention. It is a movement that needs to understand the multiple roots of its past, have a vision about its future, and decide what kind of movement it wants to be. Is it a scientific or professional movement, consisting of experts who focus on laws, regulations, and policies, and on questions of science? Or is it a grassroots justice movement, most concerned with where we live, work, and play? How do we define environmental issues? Are such issues as war, immigration, and globalization appropriate arenas for environmental action? Whom do we consider to be an environmental group?
This is a course on the past, present, and future of environmentalism. It situates the political and social forces that helped give birth to this new social movement of the 20th century and influence its directions in the 21st century. This is a History course about the roots of environmentalism and its current directions. It is also a Politics course about social movements, including issues of class, race, gender and ethnicity. And it is an Environmental Studies course that situates the history, present day circumstances, and future direction of the environmental movement within the broader study of environmental topics and methods. And for other students not in those areas but with environmental concerns or interests, it provides the background to better understand the significance of this crucial social movement and how it has addressed the complex relationships between urban, industrial, and natural environments.