Green political thought 3
Contents
The central ideas of ecologism 42
The limits to growth 42
A green programme for a sustainable society 46
Does sustainability require specific political arrangements? 51
Must green politics be democratic? 53
Must a green polity be decentralised? 58
Must a green society be egalitarian? 61
Traditional political ideologies and the green challenge 66
Conservatism and neo-liberalism 67
Classical liberalism 68
Authoritarianism 69
Socialism and Marxism 70
Feminism 72
Anarchism 74
Neither left nor right but in front? 76
Further reading 80
Key issues
◗ Is there a distinct and coherent green ideology?
◗ What would a ‘green’ society look like?
◗ What are the distinguishing principles of green political theory?
◗ How have traditional political doctrines responded to the green challenge?
◗ Where does green politics lie on the left–right spectrum?