Environmentalism in Developing Countries and the Case of a Large Korean City

In: Social science quarterly, Band 80, Heft 4, S. 810-829

Abstract

As a more industrialized developing country with poor natural resources, the case of Korea is offered to show evidence of diversity in environmentalism in developing countries. Data from a 1994 survey of 861 respondents in Taegu (a highly urbanized & industrializing city) indicate that environmentalism is characterized in diverse ways: (1) as a means for political activists to achieve democracy, (2) for health & safety, & (3) against "the very material effluents of affluence," as well as victim-based environmentalism. The effects on environmentalism of age, religion, & income of the population are also different from those in the US. It is concluded that environmentalism in developing countries is rooted in diverse sources & is qualitatively different from Western environmentalism. Future studies in such countries should take into account natural, economic, political, religious, sociocultural, & objective environmental conditions. 5 Tables, 48 References. Adapted from the source document.