At the start of the twenty-first century, it can be argued that human societies have a greater impact on the environment than ever before. We have always been dependent upon, and interacted with, the 'natural' environment. However, the dramatic social changes of the past three centuries, have altered the form of our relationship with non-human nature to the extent that some would see people/planet relations as in a situation of crisis.
Environment and Society provides a comprehensive and critical account of the ways in which we can think about the relationship between human societies and the environments with which they interact. It argues that human societies are ecologically embedded, and that environments are often socially embedded and constituted. It makes the different theoretical positions and empirical studies accessible to students, and includes chapter outlines and summaries, annotated further reading, boxed case-studies and discussion points.

Erika Cudworth

Introduction 1. Sociology and the environment 2. Environment and society in green social and political theory 3. Confronting environmental issues: Social movements and political action 4. Environment, modernity and society: Industrialism and urbanization 5. Globalization, development and environmental change 6. Society, 'culture' and 'nature' - human relations with animals Conclusion