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A theoretical analysis of the properties of conservative, liberal, & radical paradigms in social science & their application to the growth/no-growth debate in environmental policy literature. Conservatives were found to be working with an evolutionary model of society, suggesting that environmental problems are imperfections to be remedied by science, technology, & the free market. Liberals recognize the benefits & costs of growth, & articulate ways to minimize the costs through state regulation & planning. Radicals argue for state ownership of the means of production & new cultural values about growth as the only effective environmental policies. The future of the growth debate in terms of these paradigms is discussed. HA.

The previous literature on the socioeconomic correlates of environmental concern places great stress on the middle class being more supportive of environmental agendas than the working or lower socioeconomic class. We argue that certain methodological problems in this research and the theoretical implications of the proenvironmental middle-class generalization warrant an empirical reconsideration. We then find that social class indicators explain relatively little variance in environmental attitudes accounted for by "class." However, education is not related to environmental beliefs in an unambiguous linear fashion. Education is subordinate to age as a predictor of environmental attitudes, and much of the gross effect of education is the spurious result of the generally high educational backgrounds of young adults. We conclude by discussing the implications of our research for sociology of environmental problems theory.

Economic expansion & environmental concern are topics not considered compatible in PO. Various research has been conducted to assess differences in opinion between the Wc & Mc. In 1974, 548 R's were selected by multistage probability sampling, (in subsamples, Mc=199 R's & Wc=269 R's) & were administered a 2-dimensional questionnaire consisting of Likert type questions to yield data on: (1) awareness of & (2) support for environmental problems, & reform. The Wc did tend to favor economic growth over environmental concern due to a less stable financial position. However, there was an overlap with the Mc in favor of environmental safeguards. Overall, the relation between economic growth & environmental reform was weak, & generalizations of incompatability should not be made quickly. 2 Tables. Modified HA.

Abstract This paper is an empirical test of the dimensionality and predictive value of the alternative‐conventional agricultural paradigm (ACAP) scale developed by Beus and Dunlap. While recognizing that this scale may be appropriate and useful in studies of the agricultural intelligentsia (agricultural scientists, farm policy makers, organization leaders, and farm people actively following and participating in policy deliberations), our data suggest several shortcomings of this scale among a more general sample of farm operators. Initially, the scale is not satisfactorily unidimensional; instead, relatively clear‐cut environmental and family‐farmist dimensions emerged in our analysis of farmer attitudes. Separate environmental and family‐farmist subscales performed better than an omnibus (or paradigmatic) scale in predicting farm operator behaviors.

Hungry for Profit is written to explain the rise of the agribusiness system in a historical & political-economic context & to highlight the powerful resistance movement that works for safe & environmentally responsible practices. The land ownership system in England created a market system, & technical & social changes in agricultural production emerged to meet the demand for the constant productivity growth essential to capitalism. This book discusses the problems of the current food system that threatens the survival of the small farmers, harms the environment, & does not feed large segments of the world population. A better system would allow people to live closer to farm land, would allow animals to be cared for humanely, & would use environmentally healthy approaches to soil improvement & pest control. It would decrease the power of the large dominating corporations & make food accessible to the hungry. Essays in this book cover the political economy of agriculture & suggest approaches to reform. L. A. Hoffman