ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY - TOWARD A PARADIGM FOR THE 21ST-CENTURY

This paper briefly outlines the origins and contributions of environme ntal sociology to date, going on to propose ways in which the existing research can be used as a foundation for a new generation of research into the 21st century. It argues that environmental sociologists need to avoid the omphaloskepsis that sometimes afflicts other fields of s ociology, but that there is a real opportunity to do so. Three options appear particularly promising: (a) broadening the now-established bas e of sociological research that deals systematically with environmenta l variables; (b) devoting greater attention to the ways in which socia lly constructed ''definitions of the situation'' may contribute to (an d not simply permit the evading of) the environmental problems that so cieties face; and (c) beginning more line-grained analyses of the conn ections between specific human activities (particularly economic activ ities) and specific components of the physical environment. Contributi ons to date have clearly established the fact that such connections ex ist; the work of a much broader range of sociologists will be needed, however, to help develop an improved understanding oi the nature, caus es, and extent of those connections.