Geo-politics and the disaster of the anthropocene

Clark, Nigel Halcomb (2014) Geo-politics and the disaster of the anthropocene. The Sociological Review, 62 (Suppl.). pp. 19-37. ISSN 0038-0261

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Abstract

Recently, earth scientists have been discussing the idea of the ‘Anthropocene’ – a new geologic epoch defined by human geological agency. In its concern with the crossing of thresholds in Earth systems and the shift into whole new systemic states, the Anthropocene thesis might be viewed as the positing of a disaster to end all disasters. As well as looking at some of the motivations behind the Anthropocene concept, this article explores possible responses to the idea from critical social thought. It is suggested that the current problematization of planetary ‘boundary conditions’ might be taken as indicative of the emergence of a new kind of ‘geologic politics’ that is as concerned with the temporal dynamics and changes of state in Earth systems as it is with more conventional political issues revolving around territories and nation state boundaries: a geo-politics that also raises questions about practical experimentation with Earth processes.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
The Sociological Review
Additional Information:
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Clark, N. (2014), Geo-politics and the disaster of the Anthropocene. The Sociological Review, 62: 19–37. doi: 10.1111/1467-954X.12122 which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-954X.12122/abstract This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3312
Subjects:
?? disasteranthropoceneclimate changeearth systems politics of emergencygeologic politics sociology and political science ??
ID Code:
78583
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
08 Mar 2016 14:20
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
25 Mar 2024 00:28