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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Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Geo-politics and the disaster of the anthropocene
AU - Clark, Nigel Halcomb
N1 - 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.
PY - 2014/6
Y1 - 2014/6
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - disaster
KW - Anthropocene
KW - climate change
KW - earth systems
KW - politics of emergency
KW - geologic politics
U2 - 10.1111/1467-954X.12122
DO - 10.1111/1467-954X.12122
M3 - Journal article
VL - 62
SP - 19
EP - 37
JO - The Sociological Review
JF - The Sociological Review
SN - 0038-0261
IS - Suppl. S1
ER -