7 - Design, evolution and the environmental movement

Summary

There are some striking continuities in organised campaigns for environmental protection both within and among nations. It is easy to find historical precedents and cross-cultural similarities in the ‘evolution’ of environmentalism. It is therefore tempting to dismiss claims about the innovative character of environmentalism in our own time.

In the following sketch, which draws attention to elements of logical sequence and connectedness in environmental campaigns, my aim is less to prove the validity of evolutionary logic than to demonstrate:

• the value of institutions in perpetuating and reinforcing certain patterns of behaviour;

• how difficult it is for new issues to become conspicuous on the political agenda (especially if they challenge some of our cherished ways of conceptualising economic growth and material prosperity); and

• the need for design and creativity in conceptualising an issue which can then be placed on the agenda by sufficiently powerful political forces.

The last point can be linked to the earlier discussions about innovation and to the proposition about how, if new concepts can be formulated and the opportunity arises, an issue that has lain dormant for a long time can suddenly assume political significance.

For instance, as I shall illustrate in this chapter, the concern about the destruction of forests can be traced back to the turn of century.