THE SOCIOLOGY OF THE GROWTH/NO‐GROWTH DEBATE*

1 December 1980

journal article
Published by Wiley in Policy Studies Journal

Vol. 9 (3) , 336-345
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0072.1980.tb00943.x

Abstract

This theoretical analysis focuses on the properties of conservative, liberal, and radical paradigms in social science and their application to the growth/no‐growth debate in environmental policy literature. We find conservatives working with an evolutionary model of society which suggests that environmental problems are imperfections to be remedied by science, technology, and the free market. Liberals recognize the benefits and costs of growth, and they articulate ways to minimize the costs through state regulation and planning. Radicals argue for state ownership of the means of production and new cultural values about growth as the only effective environmental policies. This analysis closes with a discussion of the future of the growth debate in terms of these paradigms.

Keywords

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:

The Rise and Fall of the Limits to Growth Debate
Social Studies of Science, 1978
Environment, Population, and Technology in Primitive Societies
Population and Development Review, 1976
The Environmental Cleavage
Social Theory and Practice, 1972