The Land That Could Be: Environmentalism and Democracy in the Twenty-First Century (Urban and Industrial Environments) [Paperback]

William A. Shutkin (Author), David Brower (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2001 | Series: Urban and Industrial Environments

In this book, environmentalist and lawyer William Shutkin describes a new kind of environmental and social activism spreading across the nation, one that joins the pursuit of environmental quality with that of civic health and sustainable local economies. In the face of challenges posed by often corrosive market forces and widespread social disaffection, this civic environmentalism is creating nothing less than a new public discourse and dynamic social vision grounded in environmental action.Shutkin points the way to vibrant, sustainable communities through four inspiring examples of civic environmentalism in action: the redevelopment of contaminated urban land for agriculture in inner-city Boston, mass-transit-based development and waterfront restoration in Oakland, protection of open space and conservation-based development in rural Colorado, and smart-growth and sustainability strategies in suburban New Jersey. The book's underlying message is that the nation's environmental health is a critical factor in its success as a vital democracy. Social health, democratic community, and environmentalism, Shutkin shows, are one.From the author's preface :"This book asserts that environmentalism is as much about protecting ordinary places as it is about preserving wilderness areas; as much about promoting civic engagement as it is about pursuing environmental litigation; and as much about implementing sound economic development strategies as it is about negotiating global climate change treaties. Ultimately, I believe, environmentalism is nothing less than about our conception of ourselves as a social and political community -- what the bald eagle, our national symbol, really means."

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If one is to believe William Shutkin, the times of environmental avengers demonstrating in the streets against huge global organizations may someday be just a memory. In Shutkin's vision, the next stage of environmentalism will be a democratic, partnered one, with interest groups working together rather than vying to defeat each other, reaching consensus and making long-term plans that benefit both the environment and the community. This vision is called civic environmentalism, "the explicit link between environmental problem solving and the goal of community building ... ensuring the quality and sustainability of our communities, economically, socially, and environmentally."

Shutkin, who is a lawyer, environmentalist, and cofounder of an environmental law and education nonprofit organization, describes examples of civic environmentalism at work across America. Fruitvale, California, for instance, was a multicultural, economically depressed segment of West Oakland with high disease rates from the millions of cars that sped by every year on the nearby freeways. When BART, the regional transit authority, proposed locating a parking garage in the middle of Fruitvale's commercial district, a community development organization teamed up with residents to stop the project--which would have brought even more air pollution to the area--and convinced BART officials to support a plan to build a "transit village" instead. When completed, the result will be not a concrete block in the middle of town but a community center with shops, housing, restaurants, commercial space, and a pedestrian plaza. The BART subway stop will be within the village while parking will be located on the village's margins.

Shutkin stresses that potential wins can still become losses if coalitions fall apart. Although readers may find Shutkin's writing style on the dry side, it's nevertheless an inspiring read. If you're wondering how we will evolve from confrontation to cooperation as competition for land becomes more fierce and as we search for ways to revivify our blighted, deprived places, The Land That Could Be is the place to start looking for answers. --Stefanie Durbin --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"An important and powerful statement." Mark Dowie, author of Losing Ground: American Environmentalism at the Close of the Twentieth Century

" The Land That Could Be offers a road map —make that a trail guide—for the next journey environmentalism needs to make. These stories are powerful; they get under your skin, and make you wonder what you could be doing inyour town." Bill McKibben , author of The End of Nature

"An important and powerful statement." Mark Dowie , author of Losing Ground: American Environmentalism at the Close of the Twentieth Century

" The Land That Could Be offers a road map—make that a trail guide—for thenext journey environmentalism needs to make. These stories are powerful;they get under your skin, and make you wonder what you could be doing inyour town." Bill McKibben , author of The End of Nature

" The Land That Could Be is a shining work that grasps with clarity andconviction the mutually reinforcing relationship between environmentaland social deterioration. Shutkin"s work reveals how two hithertodistinct movements, social justice and environmental reform, aremerging in our inner cities and deracinated rural communities toreforge an America we have lost and long for." Paul Hawken , author of The Ecology of Commerce and coauthor of Natural Capitalism

" The Land That Could Be offers a road map make that a trail guide for the next journey environmentalism needs to make. These stories are powerful; they get under your skin, and make you wonder what you could be doing inyour town." Bill McKibben , author of The End of Nature

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Product Details

• Paperback: 295 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262692708
• ISBN-13: 978-0262692700
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #703,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Land that Will Be (if we become more civically active), April 26, 2000

By 

David Mandel (Vermont, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Land That Could Be: Environmentalism and Democracy in the Twenty-First Century (Urban and Industrial Environments) (Hardcover)

This is one of the most inspiring books I have read in years. When I choose to read a non-fiction book, which is rather infrequently, this is exactly the kind of book I hope for -- engaging from the first page on, well-researched, analytical, passionate and ultimately deeply meaningful. The environmental movement has had a rather narrow audience historically, but this book -- because of its basic premise that the environment is inextricably linked to all facets of our lives and because of the author's embracing style -- could serve to open up the field a great deal more. As I was reading this book, I felt a deep sense that there really is no other way to approach the significant environmental problems facing us than the way Shutkin promotes (through grass-roots citizen coalitions). I found this realization not to be burdensome but to be profoundly uplifting. Shutkin's case studies of successful civic environmentalism prove that democracy is alive and well in certain communities in our country and that, indeed, the grass will always be greener in America if more of us exercise our personal power to keep it that way.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A lyrical and compelling work -- though somewhat Utopian, May 9, 2000

By 

Saleem Ali (Vermont, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Land That Could Be: Environmentalism and Democracy in the Twenty-First Century (Urban and Industrial Environments) (Hardcover)

Bill Shutkin's sensitivity to the environment and the human dimension of ecological concerns shines through brilliantly in this book. The case studies which are at the core of his narrative and his exposition of environmental problems are well-researched, and well-experienced. As an activist/lawyer/entrepreneur/academic, Shutkin provides an unusual blend of insights which are indeed rare in environmental literature.

Optimism permeates this book which is certainly refreshing to many readers who are probably tired of the gloom and doom that resonates from many green texts. The foreword by David Brower is perhaps a prelude to this optimism and to the change in perception and outlook concerning environmental policy among activists.

Nevertheless, the primacy of this change in contemporary times is perhaps overstated by Shutkin. I was somewhat disappointed with the Amero-centric nature of the text, particularly when it comes to the poetic celebration of so global an issue as environmentalism. By this I do not mean the case selection - which is quite appropriate considering Shutkin's own expertise in working with certain communities. Rather, I am more concerned with the way in which the "reforms" within civic society are heralded as a hallmark of American democracy. Indeed, the work of the Austrian / British economist and thinker E.F. Schumacher (who died in the seventies) are not even mentioned. Much of the community oriented "small is beautiful" approach which is at the core of Shutkin's argument can be found there (and elsewhere), and has been in motion for decades.

I think that the book should have perhaps been less ambitious in its title and argument by focusing on a certain class of environmental concerns where a sense of place and association with the land can be imbibed. It is important for all of us to consider that there are also many environmental concerns, where such associations are impossible to foster - many global environmental issues such as climate change, ozone depletion or other scientifically dependent areas of environmental concerns which do indeed require a certain intellectual "elite" and an elaborate decision-making apparatus. Let us also not forget that even at the community level and the urban planning level, many of the great success stories of environmental reform have worked with strong top-down approaches - Singapore being a living example. Also, what is one to do when civic environmentalism does not emerge even within a democratic process? The book should have perhaps addressed such anomalies to the argument.

Despite these minor shortcomings, this book is a momentous achievement which will undoubtedly spur much reflection and debate.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book, needs an editor, December 12, 2005

By 

A. S. Johnson "seeking change" (Anchorage, AK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Land That Could Be: Environmentalism and Democracy in the Twenty-First Century (Urban and Industrial Environments) (Paperback)

This book has a lot of very valuable information about ways the environmental movement has been less than effective, and ways it could improve. It helped me understand some of the problems I've had with organizations like the Sierra Club and Earth Island Institute. I've felt guilty for not wanting to donate to these organizations. This book put words to my feelings that these organizations have focused on litigation at the expense of participation by average people like me who want to be involved.

The reason I gave it three stars is because it is yet another example of a book that could perhaps have a much larger audience if it only had an editor that was willing to make it more readable. The book is full of run-on sentences that I had to read three or four times to identify the subject and get some meaning. Reading this book was difficult but worthwhile.