Eco modernisation and green environmentalism

Question 1

What is Eco Modernisation?

Answer 1

The concept that the environment and the economy don’t always have to be zero-sum- that capitalism can be used to make us rich while also saving the earth

Question 2

What does EM mean on a social level?

Answer 2

Would neutralise the enviro movement and its legitimacy challenges

Question 3

What does EM mean on a practical level?

Answer 3

End the risk of enviro collapse which threatens the future of global capitalism

Question 4

What are the differences between EM and prometheanism?

Answer 4

1. It has a plan

2. It sees gov intervention as crucial- free market not enough

Question 5

What are the goals of EM?

Answer 5

1. Materials and industrial processes
   • Currently everything used is harmful, 99% of everything harvested from earth returned to it through landfill/ atmospheric pollution
   • Bio-mimicry
2. Energy systems
   • Renewable energy systems- economic growth, free energy, states achieving energy independence, individuals away from the grid and to self-sustaining homes
3. Buildings- sustainable architecture
4. Transportation
5. Food- vertical farming, urban agriculture

Question 6

What electoral system factors facilitate EM implementation?

Answer 6

• Proportional representation/ presence of Green parties
• Presidential systems less likely- powerful minorities influence too great
• Corporatist systems- not sufficient for EM, due to short-term conflict
• Federalist/ unitary state- mixed performance, worked in Germany, but in US where 26 states rely on coal and these make up 52/100 senators

Question 7

How do electoral system factors affect EM implementation?

Answer 7

• Proportional representation/ presence of Green parties
• Presidential systems less likely- powerful minorities influence too great
• Corporatist systems- not sufficient for EM, due to short-term conflict
• Federalist/ unitary state- mixed performance, worked in Germany, but in US where 26 states rely on coal and these make up 52/100 senators

Question 8

How does framing/ disclosure affect EM?

Answer 8

Dialectic relationship between discourse and interests- discourse shaped by material interests and vice versa
EM weakest in states where science and enviro are ideological battles

Question 9

How does framing/ disclosure affect EM?

Answer 9

Dialectic relationship between discourse and interests- discourse shaped by material interests and vice versa
EM weakest in states where science and enviro are ideological battle topics

Question 10

What makes an EM leader?

Answer 10

No single determining factor
o Basic conditions
• Facilitative institutions, respect for science and enviro, diverse media and economy (not reliant on mining)
o Committed gov in position to defeat opposition
o National discourse is key- elites in leading states
o Negative framing often derives from dependency on coal/ oil and geographic distribution- 4 states vs over 20 in US