Question 2 What are the different ‘waves’ of environmentalism? How do these ‘waves’ differ in approach and focus? How do they compare with the ‘waves’ of feminism? Flashcards
Scientific conservation (1860s to 1920s
Scientific conservation (1860s to 1920s) linked to the rise of industrialization and rooted in protection and activism. It advocated for conservation, not complete privatization of land, with some lands needing to be left alone for biodiversity. This included the creation of protected lands like Algonquin Park and organizations like the Sierra Club.
Ideological and political mobilization (1960s to 1980s)
Ideological and political mobilization (1960s to 1980s) which was more ideological and political, advocating for government regulation and a moral arrangement, recognizing that harming the Earth harms ourselves. This period saw publications like “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson and “Diet for a Small Planet,” as well as the emergence of Earth Day and the Green Party.
Focus on economic issues (1990s to present)
influenced by neoliberalism, seeking a balance of regulation and using capitalism and market incentives to achieve development goals based on sustainable development. This includes concepts like the Brundtland report on sustainable development, the idea of intergenerational consent, and a shift away from consumption towards conservation.
Comparing these to the ‘waves’ of feminism
Both movements have evolved over time, with earlier phases often focused on more immediate and perhaps narrower concerns (e.g., conservation of land in early environmentalism, suffrage in first-wave feminism). Later phases in both movements broadened their scope, incorporating deeper philosophical critiques (e.g., sustainable development and critique of capitalism in later environmentalism, addressing systemic patriarchy in later feminism) and a recognition of broader systemic issues. Both also show a progression from focusing on inclusion within existing structures (reform environmentalism seeking government regulation, liberal feminism seeking inclusion in institutions) to more critical examinations of the root causes of problems.
