Introduction: Rethinking environment and development in Africa and Asia

This paper introduces a series of African and Asian case studies on environ ment and development. It explores the tension between optimistic and pessim istic interpretations of environmental maintenance and transformation. It c ritically examines political ecology and eco-populism before analysing unde rlying models of governance, social justice and human rights. Key concepts in understanding the relationship between environment and development are d iscussed, including security, sustainable livelihoods, coping and entitleme nts. The paper ends with a discussion of marginality and vulnerability with particular attention to urban and informal sector environments. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.