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Environmentalism and Technology

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Abstract

The environment movement often targets technology. It switches between enthusiasm for some technologies (like wind energy) and resistance to others (like nuclear power). And yet theory regarding the way social movements engage with technology is little developed. Environment groups are simply assumed to contribute to the 'selection pressures' under which technologies evolve. This paper seeks to develop theory by bridging a gap between social movement research and the sociology of technology. It will move between the two literatures and use examples to illustrate how the environment movement's enthusiasm and resistance to technologies penetrate their networks of development.

Suggested Citation

  • Adrian Smith, 2006. "Environmentalism and Technology," SPRU Working Paper Series 149, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
    • Handle: RePEc:sru:ssewps:149
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    File URL: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/spru/documents/sewp149.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bas Arts, 2004. "THE GLOBAL‐LOCAL NEXUS: NGOs AND THE ARTICULATION OF SCALE," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 95(5), pages 498-510, December.
    2. Virginie Mamadouh, 2004. "Internet, Scale And The Global Grassroots: Geographies Of The Indymedia Network Of Independent Media Centres," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 95(5), pages 482-497, December.
    3. Smith, Adrian & Stirling, Andy & Berkhout, Frans, 2005. "The governance of sustainable socio-technical transitions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(10), pages 1491-1510, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. René Kemp & Luc Soete & Rifka Weehuizen, 2012. "Towards an Effective Eco-Innovation Policy in a Globalised Setting," Chapters, in: Frank Wijen & Kees Zoeteman & Jan Pieters & Paul van Seters (ed.), A Handbook of Globalisation and Environmental Policy, Second Edition, chapter 7, Edward Elgar Publishing.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    environment movement; resistance to technologies; sociology of technology;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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