Globalization and Environmental Reform : The Ecological Modernization of the Global Economy

by Arthur P. J. Mol

• ISBN13: 9780262133951
• ISBN10: 0262133954
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-10-01
• Publisher: Mit Pr

Summary

Many writers either glorify globalization or vilify it, particularly for its destructive environmental effects. In this book environmental sociologist Arthur Mol provides a more balanced understanding of the relationship between globalization and environmental quality. Mol bases his arguments on his theory of ecological modernization, which holds that although processes of modernization and globalization often result in environmental degradation, they also can encourage policies and programs designed to arrest degradation and improve environmental quality. Building on earlier ecological modernization studies that focused on Europe, North America, and East and Southeast Asia, Mol takes here a more global perspective. He also addresses the increasing roles of nonstate actors, especially international institutions, nongovernmental organizations, popular movements, and transnational corporations. After examining the confusion created by the failure to distinguish among globalization, global capitalism, and neoliberalism, Mol analyzes both globalization?s destructive environmental consequences and its contribution to global environmental reform. Elaborating on the subject of reform, he focuses on three case studies, one involving the economic triad of the European Union, the NAFTA region, and Japan; one involving the relationship between the triad and developing countries; and one involving three developing countries: Vietnam, the Netherlands Antilles, and Kenya.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Beyond Seattle	1	(16)
Globalization and the Transformation of Modernity	17	(30)
Ecological Modernization: From National Emergence to Global Maturation	47	(24)
The Globalization of Side Effects	71	(24)
Globalization and Environmental Reform	95	(20)
Globalization as Triadization: EU, NAFTA, and Japan	115	(26)
Global Environmental Reform beyond the Triad	141	(26)
Industrializing Economies in a Global Environment	167	(32)
Ecological Modernization and Global Environmental Reform	199	(28)
Notes	227	(20)
References	247	(24)
Index	271