Social Environmental Research in the European Union

Research Networks and New Agendas

Michael R. Redclift, Emeritus Professor of International Environmental Policy, King’s College, University of London, UK, Elizabeth Shove, Director, Centre for Science Studies, University of Lancaster, UK, Barend van der Meulen, University of Twente, the Netherlands and Sujatha Raman, School of Politics, University of Nottingham, UK With the assistance of Alfredo Cadenas, Pablo del Rio, Liana Giorgi, Heide Hackmann and Pirkko Kasanen

This book explores the making of international social science, and the parts which academics, policymakers and research managers play in creating European social environmental research. The authors present and analyse a complex picture of overlapping institutional interests within six countries of the EU – The Netherlands, UK, Spain, Greece, Finland and Austria – and develop new models with which to capture the transnational interaction of researchers and funding agencies.

The contributors consider the practical and intellectual challenges facing European research managers charged with the task of building a community of social researchers willing to engage with a policy-relevant environmental agenda. The book analyses the shape and character of European social science and the values and commitments of research activity on the environment.