The Social Construction of Climate Change Power, Knowledge, Norms, Discourses

The Social Construction of Climate Change Power, Knowledge, Norms, Discourses

Edited by Mary E. PettengerAshgate PublishingAldershotJuly 2007280 pp.ISBN 0 7546 4802 8£55.00

Focusing on the roles of norms and discourses, this collection demonstrates that there are many ways to frame the issue of climate change. The result is an insightful account of the policy process in which those with power in the material sense seek to develop and impose a hegemonic discourse regarding climate change, while others turn to the power of ideas to articulate perspectives more sensitive to their own concerns.

The book adopts two constructivist perspectives – norm-centred and discourse – to explore the social construction of climate change from a broad, theoretical level to particular cases. It also offers a greater understanding of why current efforts to mitigate climate change have failed and provides academics and policy makers with a new understanding of this important topic.