The Sage Handbook of Eco-Social Policy and Politics by Karen Bell

The Sage Handbook of Eco-Social Policy and Politics by Karen Bell

The Sage Handbook of Eco-Social Policy and Politics offers a bold and timely rethinking of how public policies and political action can address ecological challenges while simultaneously advancing a broad range of social goals—such as equity, wellbeing, inclusion, and democratic participation—through an integrated and transformative approach.

Moving beyond the traditional silos of environmental protection and social welfare, this handbook presents a comprehensive framework for understanding how ecological and social justice are deeply interconnected—and must be tackled together.

At the heart of eco-social thinking is the recognition that sustainability cannot be achieved without justice, nor justice without sustainability. From the uneven impacts of climate change to the structural inequalities embedded in environmental harm, this volume explores how power, politics, and policy shape our responses to ecological crises. It brings together leading scholars and practitioners from around the world to examine the theoretical foundations, political struggles, policy innovations, and transformative movements that define the eco-social landscape.

Structured into five thematic sections, the handbook begins with key theories, informing concepts and histories, then moves through political dynamics, policy design, grassroots activism, and future visions for eco-social transformation. It offers critical insights into how welfare systems, governance structures, and social movements can be reimagined to support both people and the planet.

The Sage Handbook of Eco-Social Policy and Politics is an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand and shape a just and sustainable future.

Section One: Theories, Concepts, and Histories
Section Two: Politics of Eco-Social Crises
Section Three: Eco-Social Policy
Section Four: Eco-Social Movements, Resistance, and Activism
Section Five: Eco-Social Futures and Transformations

 

The Sage Handbook of Eco-Social Policy and Politics provides a fresh stocktaking of theoretical and empirical research as well as policy responses to the polycrisis that our planet finds itself inIt is organized around the five themes: concepts, politics, policy, movements and transformation, and offers a unique selection of perspectives and scholars from around the world. This book will be of great benefit to anyone who cares for the survival of humanity and other species. The strong Global South focus is a much-needed addition to existing literature on degrowth, sustainable welfare and eco-social policies.

 

-- Professor Max Koch

As the polycrisis deepens, it is essential that our scholarship and writing focus both on the obstacles to change, and on the transformative possibilities that emerge when ecological and social justice are pursued together. This excellent handbook does both.

 

 

-- Julian Agyeman

Karen Bell is Professor of Social and Environmental Justice in the Division of Urban Studies and Social Policy, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow. Her work focuses on Environmental Justice, Just Transition, the environmental costs of militarism, and eco-social policy.  Her book publications include ‘Achieving Environmental Justice’ in 2014; ‘Working Class Environmentalism’ in 2020; and ‘Diversity and Inclusion in Environmentalism’ in 2021.  She is currently working on two large international research projects investigating Romani sustainability practices (AHRC funded) and military use of critical minerals (ESRC funded). Emma Foster is an Associate Professor of International Politics and Gender at the University of Birmingham. She has published work on sustainable development and environmental governance, exploring how related concepts and policies understand and integrate sex(uality) and gender. Emma has also published on ecofeminism and queer ecology. Currently, she is researching (along with- among others - fellow contributor, Peter Kerr) the tensions and potential synergies across, between and within queer and environmental activist networks and movements. She has published in a wide range of academic journals including ‘Globalisations’, ‘Gender, Place and Culture’, ‘Policy and Politics’, ‘Feminist Theory’ and ‘Global Political Economy’. Silpa Satheesh works as an Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, India. Her research interests are broadly centered in the fields of social movements, Environmental Labour Studies, political economy and social dimensions of climate change. Her book ‘Labour, Nature and Capitalism: Exploring Labour-Environmental Conflicts in Kerala, India’ (2025, UCL Press) looks at the tensions between trade unions and a working-class environmental movement. Silpa has published her research in journals and edited volumes including ‘Critical Asian Studies’, ‘Sociology Compass’, ‘The Palgrave Handbook of Environmental Labour Studies’, and ‘Interface: A journal for and about social movements’.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781529684247
ISBN 10	1529684242
Title	The Sage Handbook of Eco-Social Policy and Politics
Author	Karen Bell
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	SAGE Publications Ltd
Year published	2026-02-18
Number of pages	720
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.