THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE DEBATE - NEW AGENDAS FOR A 3RD-GENERATION OF RESEARCH

Environmental justice has become a major focus of research within the environmental social sciences. Early studies mostly examined the unequ al distribution of natural resource hazards in an advanced capitalist political-economy. More recent studies have quantitatively gauged the relationship between sociodemographic factors and exposure to toxic ch emical pollution. In this article, I use presentations at the recent m eetings of the American Sociological Association (Toronto, August 1997 ) to suggest where the third generation of research into environmental justice may be heading. The literature is at a crossroads. We know en ough to argue that there is a problem, but we cannot clearly articulat e relationships, causation, or policy demands. New research techniques and social theories may begin to allow us to accomplish these more am bitious tasks.