Teaching and Learning Resource (TLR)
1. Title
Classifying Environmentalism: A Critical Introduction to Technocentrism and Ecocentrism
2. Keywords
Environmentalism, ecocentrism, technocentrism.
3. Introduction
There is no single, unambiguous, universally-agreed definition of environmentalism (or cognate terms such as environmental and environmentalist). However, for the purposes of this Teaching and Learning Resource (TLR), environmentalism can be understood as referring to texts (in various media) and actions (undertaken by individuals or groups) of a broadly political nature that are – or are claimed to be – concerned in some way with conserving, improving, preserving, protecting or saving the ‘environment’. Of course, just as there are competing definitions of environmentalism, so there is also disagreement as to what constitutes the ‘environment’ - as well as what it means to conserve, improve, preserve, protect or save it - and, of course, the reasons advanced in support of such proposals and activity. Thus, what is called ‘environmentalism’ can actually be seen as a collection of many different environmentalisms (such as Deep Ecology, eco-anarchism, ecofeminism, eco-socialism, and free-market environmentalism); each with its own characteristic set of assumptions about the nature and cause of environmental ‘problems’, and the most appropriate response to those problems. (It should also be noted that some of these environmentalisms are themselves subject to further internal fragmentation.) This interpretation of ‘environmentalism’ is deliberately all-embracing, so that it includes, for example, activity associated with governmental / political organisations (including those not generally seen as being ‘green’) and business organisations (including those accused of causing the greatest environmental damage) – as well as the more obvious activity of environmental pressure groups. Consequently, whilst some of these environmentalisms can be seen as variations on a theme, others appear to stand in more or less direct opposition to one another.
A number scholars have sought to make sense of this diversity by devising more or less simple - often dichotomous - classification systems. One of the best known, and most frequently cited, of these is Timothy O’Riordan’s division of environmentalism into the categories of technocentrism and ecocentrism. The relatively widespread use of this system and its associated terminology in environmentalist texts – despite O’Riordan’s subsequent revisions (1) – is reflected in the writings and discussions of many students. However, this usage - by students and others - is often uncritical. That is, it appears to assume the adequacy of the terms and the system more generally as a means of categorising the somewhat bewildering heterogeneity of contemporary environmentalism.
4. Aim
The aim of this TLR is provide students with a introduction to the classification of contemporary environmentalism. It seeks to achieve this aim by inviting them to think critically about O’Riordan’s division of environmentalism into the categories of technocentrism and ecocentrism - in relation to their own beliefs, and the views advanced by a range of governmental, political, non-governmental and business organisations.
5. Learning outcomes
After using this TLR, students should:
- Be aware that environmentalism is an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of competing and often contradictory ideas, and associated actions, concerning the environment.
- Be aware that environmentalism can be classified in a number of different ways.
- Be familiar with O’Riordan’s widely used division of environmentalism into the categories of technocentrism and ecocentrism.
- Be able to think critically about the adequacy of technocentrism and ecocentrism as a means of categorising the heterogeneity of environmentalist thought.
- Be better able to think critically about other systems for classifying environmentalism.
