OLD THEORIES IN NEW PLACES - ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINISM AND BIOREGIONALISM

Bioregionalism is a contemporary environmental movement containing det erministic ideas similar to those of geography's environmental determi nism. This paper examines the theoretical and practical implications f or bioregionalism based upon the experience of geography by identifyin g parallels between bioregionalism and environmental determinism in te rms of both culture and politics. While not a latter day form of envir onmental determinism, bioregionalism deterministically links political culture and the environment. By comparing and contrasting environment al determinism with bioregionalism's deterministic tendencies, I ident ify certain contradictory ideas within bioregionalism. Among the most important contradictions occur when bioregionalists base moral judgeme nts on a form of environmentalism, and when they advocate self determi nation while promoting environmentally determined lifeways. These idea s lie at the intersection of bioregionalism's social and ecological ob jectives-where the deterministic nature of bioregionalism is at odds w ith bioregionalism's decentralized, egalitarian philosophy.