Introduction - Gert Spaargaren, Arthur P J Mol and Frederick H Buttel
Globalization, Modernity and the Environment
Classical Theory and Contemporary Environmental Sociology - Frederick H Buttel
Some Reflections on the Antecedents and Prospects for Reflexive Modernization Theories in the Study of Environment and Society
Ecological Modernization Theory and the Changing Discourse on Environment and Modernity - Gert Spaargaren
Modern Theories of Society and the Environment - Eugene A Rosa
The Risk Society
Social Constructions and Social Constrictions - William R Freudenburg
Toward Analyzing the Social Construction of ¿the Naturalized¿ as Well as ¿the Natural¿
Globalization and Environment - Arthur P J Mol
Between Apocalypse-Blindness and Ecological Modernization
Environmental Social Theory for a Globalizing World Economy - Michael Redclift
The Ideology of Ecological Modernization in ¿Double-Risk¿ Societies - Leonardus Rinkevicius
A Case Study of Lithuanian Environmental Policy
Political Modernization Theory and Environmental Politics - Pieter Leroy and Jan van Tatenhove
Ecological Modernization and Post-Ecologist Politics - Ingolfur Bl[um]uhdorn
Self-Organizing Complexity, Conscious Purpose and ¿Sustainable Development¿ - Ernest Garcia

This accomplished book argues that we can only make sense of environmental issues if we consider them as part of a more encompassing process of social transformation. It asks whether there is an emerging consensus between social scientists on the central issues in the debate on environmental change, and if concerns about the environment constitute a major prop to the process of globalization?

The book provides a thorough discussion of the central themes in environmental sociology, identifying two traditions: ecological modernization theory and risk society theory.