Global Ecopolitics: Crisis, Governance, and Justice, by Peter John Stoett
| DOI | 10.1177/0020702014564666 |
| Date | 01 March 2015 |
| Author | Daniel Macfarlane |
| Published date | 01 March 2015 |
| Subject Matter | Book Reviews |
It does not detract in any way from the merits of this fine, closely reasoned, and
closely argued book, a valuable addition to the already extensive literature on the
complex interaction between globalization and the state.
Peter John Stoett
Global Ecopolitics: Crisis, Governance, and Justice
Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2012. 241 pp. $26.95 (paper)
ISBN 9781442601932
Reviewed by: Daniel Macfarlane, Western Michigan University
Given the inherently transborder nature of contemporary environmental issues
such as climate change, studies of topics at the ‘‘intersection of ecology and politics
at various levels’’ (3) are desperately needed. Concordia University’s Peter Stoett
labels this intersection ‘‘ecopolitics.’’ As the author or co-editor of a range of books
on this theme, he is a leading expert in the field. In his latest work, Global
Ecopolitics: Crisis, Governance, and Justice, Stoett provides a concise survey of
the global governance of environmental issues, which chiefly involves looking
at ‘‘international arrangements,’’ a term the author uses to encompass both legal
and institutional actions. Stoett clearly sets out the aims of the book, and fol-
lows through on his promises. After an introduction, the second chapter intro-
duces the main actors, institutions, and analytical framework. The book
proceeds with a series of case studies: biodiversity reduction; deforestation and
desertification; air pollution and climate change; trade; freshwater and ocean
issues; eco-violence and conflict; invasive species; food security; and energy
issues. Most of these topics are subject to some type of global governance,
although there are ‘‘governance gaps’’ where no regulation or agreements really
exist (5).
Global Ecopolitics is concerned not only with summarizing the range of inter-
national agreements and institutions but also with making prescriptions. Four
criteria for measuring the effectiveness of global environmental governance efforts
are established: historical trajectory and scope; concrete improvements; cognitive
success; democratic legitimacy and environmental justice. The author’s concern for
environmental justice is an animating factor throughout. Stoett has an optimistic
view, offering pragmatic, balanced solutions that are neither fatalistic nor utopian.
He is wisely wary of technological fixes and the potential for science to be politi-
cized. Stoett is obviously a proponent of global governance as a solution, although
he repeatedly points out that such governance cannot accomplish its goals without
local and on-the-ground efforts requiring the involvement of both the public and
private sectors. Indeed, he advocates a ‘‘multilevel adaptive governance approach’’
which entails that no one level of authority can effectively administer the solution
to a collective action problem (3).
Dividing many overlapping topics and themes into discrete chapters is diffi-
cult and requires sacrifices, but I can see no reason to complain about the
Book Reviews 179
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