Future directions for applications of political economy in environmental and resource sociology: selected research priorities going forward. Issue 4 (2nd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Perz, Stephen G; Covington, Heather; Espin Moscoso, Johanna; Griffin, Lauren; Jacobson, Ginger; Leite, Flavia; Mook, Anne; Overdevest, Christine; Samuels-Jones, Tameka G; Thomson, Ryan
• Is Part Of: Environmental sociology. Volume 4:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 470
• Page End: 487
• Publication Date: 2018-10-02
• Subjects: Environmental sociology -- food justice -- critical animal studies -- green criminology -- political economy -- social media -- social movements -- performativity; Environmental sociology -- Periodicals; 363.7
• DOI: 10.1080/23251042.2018.1446678
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2325-1042

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Environmental and resource sociology has long featured political economy perspectives among its diverse theoretical retinue. Whether based on treadmills, modernization or other frameworks, political economy perspectives have influenced a growing body of environmental and resource sociology research. Recent reviews of environmental and resource sociology offer broad evaluations of the evolving state of the field, highlighting political economy theories and research needs. In this paper, we complement those reviews by suggesting a selection of specific topics informed in various ways by political economy perspectives as future directions in environmental and resource sociology. We prioritize research questions as applications of political economy perspectives to additional issues, sometimes via cross-fertilizations with other theoretical approaches, and thereby offer innovative directions for future research. The four topics are (1) food justice, critical animal studies and the industrial food system; (2) green criminology; (3) social media, social movements and environmental change; and (4) performativity. For each topic, we overview foundational arguments, noting relationships to political economy thought and briefly reviewing recent empirical work, before proposing specific research questions to inform future inquiry. While other topics are indeed valuable, we suggest that the assets of those we feature offer particularly innovative and fruitful directions. We conclude by discussing other research topics that also present intriguing opportunities.