The political dynamics of the new environmentalism

Abstract

The 1980s have witnessed a rejuvenation of environmental politics within all advanced industrial societies. Some analyses suggest that this merely re flects the underlying business cycle, as the problems associated with growth rather than recession come to dominate the political agenda. However, there is considerable evidence to suggest that environmentalism is likely to remain a permanent feature of the politics of advanced industrial societies in the 1990s. This is because the new environmentalism is nurtured by the decline of tradi tional class-based politics and the emergence of new political cleavages within Western societies. Moreover, the deepening of processes of social change in industrial societies, combined with a sensitivity of governments to the eco nomic and welfare consequences of environmental crises and the globalization of environmental issues have transformed the political dynamics of environ mentalism. This transformation will present major challenges to business and industry in the 1990s which will demand genuine responses.