Political Ecology

Preface to the Second Edition vii

Introduction 1

Part I What is Political Ecology? 9

1 Political versus Apolitical Ecologies 11

2 A Tree with Deep Roots 25

3 The Critical Tools 49

4 Political Ecology Emerges 82

Part II Conceptual and Methodological Challenges 101

5 Challenges in Ecology 103

6 Challenges in Social Construction 122

7 Challenges in Explanation 143

Part III Political Ecology Now 155

8 Degradation and Marginalization 157

9 Conservation and Control 176

10 Environmental Confl ict 199

11 Environmental Subjects and Identities 215

12 Political Objects and Actors 231

Part IV Where to Now? 245

13 Beyond Political Ecology? 247

References 254Index 277

Paul Robbins is Professor and Director of the School of Geography and Development at the University of Arizona. He is the author of numerous publications including World Regions in a Global Context: People, Places, and Environments (with S. Marston, P.Knox, D. Liverman and V. Del Casino, 2010), Environment and Society: A Critical Introduction (with J. Hintz and S. Moore, Wiley-Blackwell, 2010), and Global Political Ecology (co-edited with R. Peet and M. Watts, 2011).

"What is political ecology and where does it get us? In response to these questions, Robbins's book opens the can of worms for neophytes, provides a handy text for teachers, and traces an untidy field's trajectories for a contentious constituency of scholarly practitioners. This update on the classic first edition is both rigorous and clear, demonstrating why environmental problems are fundamentally socio-natural; demanding critical analysis and political solutions." -- Nancy Lee Peluso, University of California, Berkeley

"Good second editions of seminal works build on strengths, consolidate, update and innovate. Paul Robbins manages all these handsomely. He also keeps the coherence, vitality and reputation of political ecology as a whole firmly in view. Rewarding reading!" -- Piers Blaikie, University of East Anglia

"An outstanding text told in vivid and accessible prose. Robbins examines the questions and practices that animate the body of research known as political ecology. Indispensable reading for students, scholars, and practitioners interested in environment and development issues." -- Judith Carney, University of California, Los Angelesnd traces an untidy field's trajectories for a contentious constituency of scholarly practitioners. This update on the classic first edition is both rigorous and clear, demonstrating why environmental problems are fundamentally socio-natural; demanding critical analysis and political solutions." -- Nancy Lee Peluso, University of California, Berkeley

"Good second editions of seminal works build on strengths, consolidate, update and innovate. Paul Robbins manages all these handsomely. He also keeps the coherence, vitality and reputation of political ecology as a whole firmly in view. Rewarding reading!" -- Piers Blaikie, University of East Anglia

"An outstanding text told in vivid and accessible prose. Robbins examines the questions and practices that animate the body of research known as political ecol

"This book appeals to a wide academic audience: master and PhD students in environmental sciences and human ecology, researchers in ecological politics and related fields as environmental law and sociology. Both the subject and the accessible character of the book make it most useful for a wide group of non-expert professionals operating in environmental consultancy and expertise. It is a book for all of us interested in the need for better environmental politics, explanation, and ethics." ( Int. J. Environment and Pollution , 1 November 2014)