Social and Political Sciences of the Environment

The Netherlands is regarded as a leading country in the field of environmental sciences, and its environmental policy is widely considered as sophisticated. But what do political and social sciences contribute to this policy? What have Dutch political and social scientists achieved with regard to environmental problems, and where do they stand in comparison to what is going on internationally?

The authors give an overview of three decades of research by Dutch political and social scientists of the environment. Within that legacy, they distinguish studies concerning the structural basis of environmental studies, as well as research into environmental attitudes and behaviour, environmental communication, the environmental movement and environmental policy. They identify the predominant research issues and those topics that have hitherto been relatively neglected.