Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction (Critical Introductions to Geography) [Paperback]

Paul Robbins (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1405102667 | ISBN-13: 978-1405102667 | Publication Date: August 9, 2004 | Edition: 1

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.

• Provides the first full history of the development of political ecology over the last century.
  
• Considers the major challenges facing the field now and for the future.
  
• Written to be accessible to students at all levels and from different disciplines.
  
• Uses case examples to explore abstract, theoretical issues in a down-to-earth way.
  
• Features study boxes, introducing key figures in the development of the discipline and summarizing their key works.
  
• Details of the author’s own research experiences to offer a personal glimpse into political ecology research.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“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

Review

"What is political ecology and where does it get us? In response to these questions, Robbins's book opens the can of worms for neophytes, provides a handy text for teachers, and traces an untidy field's trajectories for a contentious constituency of scholarly practitioners. This update on the classic first edition is both rigorous and clear, demonstrating why environmental problems are fundamentally socio-natural; demanding critical analysis and political solutions."
—Nancy Lee Peluso, University of California, Berkeley

"Good second editions of seminal works build on strengths, consolidate, update and innovate. Paul Robbins manages all these handsomely. He also keeps the coherence, vitality and reputation of political ecology as a whole firmly in view. Rewarding reading!"
—Piers Blaikie, University of East Anglia

"An outstanding text told in vivid and accessible prose. Robbins examines the questions and practices that animate the body of research known as political ecology. Indispensable reading for students, scholars, and practitioners interested in environment and development issues."
—Judith Carney, University of California, Los Angeles --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (August 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405102667
• ISBN-13: 978-1405102667
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 0.8 x 9.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #190,763 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "A" standard, August 25, 2004

By 

Eric P. Perramond "Don Perrito" (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction (Critical Introductions to Geography) (Paperback)

Robbins has provided the new standard for political ecology texts, at least in geography, although this book is far different from a mundane "textbook." He summarizes both the thrust of what political ecology, what political ecologists do, and the shifting ground beneath our feet as we all struggle to understand and explain human-environment relationships in a political and economically complex world. Some readers and reviewers have fairly pointed out that the volume is too accommodating to perspectives that traditionally clash, or don't mesh very well, to the point of neglecting important differences in how political ecologists conduct research and how they frame it in a particular body of ideas.
I am not sure how some of the authors of past works in cultural, human and political ecology (or anthropology) would view Robbins' interpretation of their work, either in the time-line diagrams of how the sub-discipline has evolved or in the sense of being lumped with other practitioners with whom they shared little in common.
So, while the book is exceptional, the volume can be critiqued for being a bit too inclusive: Robbins has tried to build a tent large enough to house all of the bickering schools, personalities and research approaches...that rarely agree to enter the same tent.

5.0 out of 5 stars political ecology, May 27, 2011

By 

gabimorluq - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction (Critical Introductions to Geography) (Paperback)

Great book! it contains tha basics about political ecology, its concepts and theories, if you want to start in the field of study of the discipline, i suggest you take a look at this book, very good!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Read on Robbins, January 3, 2007

By 

Tristan Ragsdale - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction (Critical Introductions to Geography) (Paperback)

Not a bad text for advanced environmental studies students. The layperson outside of the classroom may have some difficulty identifying the underlying structure, and deeper meaning of political ecology, which I find to be a radical de-constructionist perspective.