Social Movements as Problematic Agents of Global Environmental Change

Abstract

The author asserts that environmental NGO's are the quintessential environmental actor, & assesses the ability of environmental social movement organizations (SMO) to operate as agents of global environmental change in the new millennium by projecting the possible future trends of these organizations along four themes. The analysis of environmental NGO's dependence on scientific technology indicates a weak ability to mobilize populations. The solutions orientation that impacts environmental SMO's is problematized in the cases of the ozone layer, mad cow disease & population. The difficulty of attaining global representativeness without the universal language of science is discussed in terms of developing world wide policy. The inadequate ability to transcendence of the status quo by environmental SMO's is discussed in terms of ecological modernization & protests against universal capitalism. The four themes support the conclusion that environmental SMO's are not equipped for a leading role in global environmental campaigning in future years. References. J. Harwell