Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction (Critical Introductions to Geography) - Hardcover

"There is nothing like it, an excellent and accessible volume that will take over as 'the' textbook on political ecology." Susanna Hecht, University of California, Los Angeles "Above all a teaching text, but with an argument and written with great style and verve." Tony Bebbington, University of Manchester "This is an excellent, refreshing text ... it should be seen as a set text on all ecology courses and deserves the widest readership." Paul Ganderton, Teaching Ecology Group "Although I am somewhat skeptical of textbooks, particularly as a way of teaching theory, this book is rich enough to make me want to design a class around it." Enviroment and Planning "This book is written in a clear, accessible language to scholars. [T]he features of the book coalesce to form a text that is entertaining and which provides a rigorous synthesis of the achievements and shortcomings of political ecology to date. In my view this book is essential reading for any person professing to be an academic geographer of any sort." South African Geographical Journal

This text presents a critical survey of the burgeoning field of political ecology, an interdisciplinary area of research which connects politics and economy to problems of environmental control and ecological change. Written to be accessible to students at all levels and from different disciplines, it provides an entertaining and rigorous synthesis of the achievements and shortcomings of the field to date. The book is divided into four sections: the history and emergence of political ecology over the last century; the conceptual and methodological challenges facing political ecologists; the major questions that political ecology has addressed and, to varying degrees, answered; and the major challenges that face the field now and for the future. Throughout, the author uses case examples to explore abstract, theoretical issues in a down-to-earth way. He also draws on real life details from his own experience, in order to offer a personal glimpse into political ecology research.