5. The Dilemmas of Environmental Activism Politics of Sustainable Development

Phases of Environmental Activism Phases of Environmental Activism 1.awakeningprimarily local protests against pollution pre-1968 pre ”age of ecology”national organizational development politicization social movements in relation to energy policy differentiationprofessionalization and party politics internationalization global orientation – network and alliance-building IntegrationAgenda 21, sustainable development

Awakening action group model of organization action group model of organization local arenas, or sites local arenas, or sites often ”direct action” form of protest often ”direct action” form of protest protests about air and water pollution protests about air and water pollution

The Age of Ecology new activist organizations new activist organizations national and transnational arenas national and transnational arenas coordinated, planned manifestations coordinated, planned manifestations programmatic ambitions programmatic ambitions

Politicization broad-based alliances broad-based alliances media central sites of debate media central sites of debate organized information campaigns organized information campaigns focus on energy production and use focus on energy production and use

Differentiation political parties, professional activism political parties, professional activism parliamentary and government arenas parliamentary and government arenas lobbying, expertise, research lobbying, expertise, research wide range of issue areas wide range of issue areas

Internationalization transnational networks transnational networks key sites: intergovernmental meetings key sites: intergovernmental meetings link to socio-economic development link to socio-economic development emphasis on global issues emphasis on global issues

Integration appropriation by other actors appropriation by other actors market as important arena, or site market as important arena, or site discursive politics: public relations discursive politics: public relations social and cultural dimensions social and cultural dimensions

Environmental Activism as Cognitive Praxis Type of Activism Community Local campaigns Social ecology Professional Mainstream organizations Political ecology Militant Radical groups Deep ecology Personal New age artists Green consumers Knowledge forms FactualLayLegalExpertRhetoricalIdeologicalSpiritualCitizen Knowledge interest Empowerment Public participation Enlightenment Policy deliberation Political protest ResistanceAuthenticityIdentity

Conditions of participation Contexts of mediation, meeting places Contexts of mediation, meeting places Bridge-builders, translators Bridge-builders, translators Enlightened civil servants Enlightened civil servants Political support from above Political support from above Cultural acceptance from below Cultural acceptance from below

Regimes of Green Knowledge ResidualDominantEmerging Key sites local/national globalhybrid networks Forms of popular commercialexemplary action resistancefacilitationmobilization Type of knowledge factual/laymanagerialsituated Tacit competence traditionalprofessionalexperiential

Elements of Green Knowledge Network-based Network-based Ad hoc project organization Ad hoc project organization Change, or policy-oriented Change, or policy-oriented Hybrid, or eclectic identities Hybrid, or eclectic identities Transdisciplinary dissemination Transdisciplinary dissemination Importance of ”tacit” forms of competence Importance of ”tacit” forms of competence Socially, or ethically informed Socially, or ethically informed