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  • GeoPolDisasterAnthropFINAL

    Rights statement: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Clark, N. (2014), Geo-politics and the disaster of the Anthropocene. The Sociological Review, 62: 19–37. doi: 10.1111/1467-954X.12122 which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-954X.12122/abstract This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.

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Geo-politics and the disaster of the anthropocene

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>06/2014
<mark>Journal</mark>The Sociological Review
Issue numberSuppl. S1
Volume62
Number of pages19
Pages (from-to)19-37
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date18/03/14
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Recently, earth scientists have been discussing the idea of the ‘Anthropocene’ – a new geologic epoch defined by human geological agency. In its concern with the crossing of thresholds in Earth systems and the shift into whole new systemic states, the Anthropocene thesis might be viewed as the positing of a disaster to end all disasters. As well as looking at some of the motivations behind the Anthropocene concept, this article explores possible responses to the idea from critical social thought. It is suggested that the current problematization of planetary ‘boundary conditions’ might be taken as indicative of the emergence of a new kind of ‘geologic politics’ that is as concerned with the temporal dynamics and changes of state in Earth systems as it is with more conventional political issues revolving around territories and nation state boundaries: a geo-politics that also raises questions about practical experimentation with Earth processes.

Bibliographic note

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Clark, N. (2014), Geo-politics and the disaster of the Anthropocene. The Sociological Review, 62: 19–37. doi: 10.1111/1467-954X.12122 which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-954X.12122/abstract This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.