The Shaping of Environmental Policy in France / Edition 1

by Joseph Szarka

Overview

Drawing on an extensive range of political, legal and sociological materials, the author presents and evaluates environmental policy-making in France at a time when environmental problems are growing in complexity and gravity.

He highlights the range of inputs to the policy process – including popular movements, green parties, interest group representation, EU legislation and international treaties – and evaluates the diverse nature of the outcomes which lead him to conclude that because new developments involve not only changes in policy content but also adaptation of policy style, environmental demands are progressively changing the shape of politics itself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781571819994
Publisher:	Berghahn Books
Publication date:	02/01/2002
Series:	Contemporary France , #6
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Joseph Szarka is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bath.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

PART I: SHAPING FACTORS: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

Chapter 1. Public Opinion, the Green Movement and Environmental Groups in France
Chapter 2. Green Parties in the French Political System
Chapter 3. The French Polity, Institutional Capacity Building and the Environment
Chapter 4. European Environmental Policy and France

PART II: CASE STUDIES: THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT: CONSERVING NATURE OR PROTECTING SPECIAL INTERESTS

Chapter 5. The Industrial Environment: 'Command and Control' or Corporatist Policy Making?
Chapter 6. The Human Environment: Widening the Policy Networks
Chapter 7. Towards Sustainable Development?
Chapter 8. General Conclusions

Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Drawing on interviews with French Environment Ministry officials, Szarka (U. of Bath, UK) adds to the sparse English language literature on environmental policy-making in France. The author first discusses theoretical constructions of the environment, Sabatier's advocacy coalition model of policy-development, and practical factors (e.g., green parties) re-shaping centralized French politics. Case studies illustrate issues of special interests, policies promoting industry pollution control, widening of policy networks, and regional planning for sustainable development. National heritage preservation and transport policy issues are consciously omitted. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"This excellent study combines considerable institutional and policy detail with an assured analysis of government and private sector agent interactions." - Modern and Contemporary France

"One of the main conclusions the reader of [this] book can draw is that the best specialists of French contemporary political movements come from the Anglo-Saxon academic world." - H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews OnLine

"... a most welcome contribution to [the development of environmental policy] ... Overall, this book is well worth buying, both from an individual and from an institutional perspective. It is excellent value for money and an excellent source of information on environmental policy development and practice that allows one's knowledge to be pushed beyond the traditional Anglo-American axis." - Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy

"[A] solid, insightful, fair-minded survey of French environmental policies" - Choice

From the Publisher