Autore
Pellizzoni, Luigi

Titolo
Reassessing Sustainability. An Introduction
Periodico
Sociologica
Anno: 2012 - Volume: 16 - Fascicolo: 2 - Pagina iniziale: 0

Debates over sustainable development highlight its inherently contentious character.Not only its three "pillars" (economic, ecologic and social) have enjoyed a varied scientific andpolicy success, the social dimension of sustainability remaining the weakest and most controversial,but there are different strategies as regards the way to give operational meaning to theconcept. Some follow a pragmatic approach, where sustainability plays a boundary role thanksprecisely to its ambiguities. Others choose a specific outlook, according to a preference for"stronger" or "weaker" interpretations of the role of technology. Still others elaborate on thepolitical import of the notion, its use for political purposes and within social struggles. Hardlyinsignificant from this viewpoint is the connection between the emergence and spread of thesustainability discourse and the rise of neoliberalism. A reassessment of the issue in the light ofongoing social and environmental changes is mandatory. The articles included in this issues offeran updated discussion of major theoretical and empirical aspects, from biofuels to green urbanmanagement, from sustainable tourism to climate change policies, devoting particular attentionto the strengths and weaknesses of current prevailing "reformist" approaches. Sustainability remainsa wicked problem, the performative role of which in inducing social transformation callsfor a renewed sociological inquiry.



SICI: 1971-8853(2012)16:2<0:RSAI>2.0.ZU;2-4
Testo completo: http://www.rivisteweb.it/download/article/10.2383/38266
Testo completo alternativo: http://www.rivisteweb.it/doi/10.2383/38266

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