Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Lessons from the Study

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Challenging Legitimacy at the Precipice of Energy Calamity

  • 526 Accesses

Abstract

The consequences to the ecological foundations of human (and non-human) life from climate change, losses in biological diversity, trans-boundary waste movements, rising sea levels, changes in weather and food production, and so on are of a magnitude not previously experienced and pose not just a threat but also a certainty of changes to our collective quality of life. These processes, and the complex global systems that they are altering, have had significant consequences for politics and raise questions about the utility of certain theoretical concepts formulated under very different circumstances. The tar sands issue comprises a microcosm of these contemporary political questions and exemplifies the need for re-consideration of three concepts in particular.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, written Submission to the Oil Sands Consultation Panel, October 2006.

References

  • Alario, M. & Freudenburg, W.R. (2006). High-risk Technology, Legitimacy and Science: The U.S. Search for Energy Policy Consensus. Journal of Risk Research, 9(7), 737–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amsler, S. (2009). Embracing the politics of ambiguity: Toward a normative theory of ‘sustainability.’ Capitalism, Nature, Socialism, 20(2), 111–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, B.R. (1991). Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origins and Spread of Nationalism. London: Verso.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arrighi, G. (2005). Hegemony unraveling—1. New Left Review, 32(Mar/Apr), 23–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashforth, B.E., and Gibbs, B.W. (1990). The double-edge of organizational legitimation. Organization Science, 1, 177–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barry, J. (1999). Rethinking Green Theory. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell, D. (2005). Liberal environmental citizenship. Environmental Politics, 14(2), 179–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benford, R.D., and Snow, D.A. (2000). Framing processes and social movements: An overview and assessment. Annual Review of Sociology, 26, 611–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohman, J. (2007). Democracy Across Borders: From Demos to Demoi. Cambridge, MA: MIT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bullard, R.D. (ed) (1993). Confronting Environmental Racism: Voices From the Grassroots. Boston: South End.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bunker, S.G., & Ciccantell. P.S. (2005). Globalization and the Race for Resources. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burtynsky, E. (2011) OIL. Gottingen:Steidl.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buttel, F.H., & Gould, K.A. (2004). Global social movement(s) at the crossroads: Some observations on the trajectory of the anti-corporate globalization movement. Journal of World Systems Research, 10(1), 37–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Capek, S.M. (1993). The ‘environmental justice’ frame: A conceptual discussion and an application. Social Problems, 40(1), 5–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, W.K., & Ratner, R.S. (1994). Gramscian reflections on counter-hegemony and the new social movements. Critical Sociology, 20(3), 3–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castells, M. (2009 [1996]). The Rise of the Network Society. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chin, C.B.N., & Mittelman J.H. (1997). Conceptualising resistance to globalization. New Political Economy, 2(1), 25–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Catton, W.R., Jr. (1982). Overshoot: The ecological basis of revolutionary change. Urbana: University of Illinois.

    Google Scholar 

  • Catton, W.R., Jr., & Dunlap, R.E. (1978). Environmental sociology: A New Paradigm. The American Sociologist, 13(Feb), 41–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christoff, P. (1996). Ecological citizens and ecologically guided democracy. In B. Doherty & M. de Geus (Eds.), Democracy and Green Political Thought: Sustainability, Rights and Citizenship. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1985). Strategy or Identity: New theoretical paradigms and contemporary social movements. Social Research, 52(4), 663–716.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, R.W. (1983). Gramsci, hegemony, and international relations: an essay in method. In R.W. Cox and T. Sinclair. (eds). Approaches to World Order. Cambridge: Cambridge University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, D.J. (2007). Private property wrongs: uncovering the contradictory articulations of an hegemonic ideology. Sociological Inquiry, 77(1), 104–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, D.J., & MacKendrick, N.A. (2004). All dressed up and nowhere to go: the discourse of ecological modernization in Alberta, Canada. Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, 41(1), 47–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DiMaggio, P.J., & Powell, W.W. (1983). The Iron Cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields. American Sociological Review, 48(2), 147–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dobson, A. (2003). Citizenship and the Environment. Oxford: Oxford University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daub, S. (2010). Negotiating sustainability: climate change framing in the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union. Symbolic Interaction, 33(1), 115–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, P. (2000). Fighting marginalization with transnational networks: counter-hegemonic globalization. Contemporary Sociology, 29(1), 230–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fairclough, N., Graham, P., Lemke, J., & Wodak, R. (2003). Introduction. Critical Discourse Studies, 1(1), 1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrari, F. (2007). Metaphor at work in the analysis of political discourse: investigating a “preventive war” persuasion strategy. Discourse and Society, 18(5), 603–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finlayson, A. (1994). Fishing for Truth: A Sociological analysis of northern cod stock assessments from 1977 to 1990. St John’s, NL: Institute of Social and Economic Research, Memorial University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, N. (2009). Scales of Justice: Reimagining Political Space in a Globalizing World. New York: Columbia University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freidel, T. (2008). (Not so) crude text and images: staging NATIVE in ‘big oil’ advertising. Visual Studies, 23(3), 238–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freudenburg, W.R. (2005). Privileged access, privileged accounts: toward a socially structured theory of resources and discourses. Social Forces 84(1), 89–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freudenburg, W.R. (2006). Environmental degradation, disproportionality, and the double diversion: reaching out, reaching ahead, and reaching beyond. Rural Sociology 71(1), 3–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freudenburg, W.R., & Alario, M. (2007). Weapons of mass distraction: magicianship, misdirection, and the dark side of legitimation. Sociological Forum 22(2), 146–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freudenburg, W.R., Gramling, R. & Davidson, D.J. (2008) Scientific Uncertainty Argumentation Methods (SCAMs): Science and the politics of doubt. Sociological Inquiry 78(1), 2–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gamson, W. (1975). The Strategy of Social Protest. Homewood, IL: Dorsey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gill, S.R. and Law, D. (1989). Global hegemony and the structural power of capital. International Studies Quarterly, 33, 475–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giugni, M.G. (1998). Was it worth the effort? The outcomes and consequences of social movements. Annual Review of Sociology, 98, 371–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gramsci. A. (1971). Selections from the Prison Notebooks of Antonio Gramsci. Quintin, H. & Smith, J.N. (Eds. and trans.). New York: International Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hajer, M. & Versteeg, W. (2005). A decade of discourse analysis of environmental politics: Achievements, challenges, perspectives. Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning, 7(3), 175–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Habermas, J. (1973). Theory and Practice. Boston: Beacon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Habermas, J. (1975). Legitimation Crisis. Ypsilanti, MI: Beacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haikio, L. (2007). Expertise, representation and the common good: grounds for legitimacy in the urban governance network. Urban Studies, 44(11), 2147–2162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helbig, L. (2009). Beautiful Destruction Exhibition Gallery. Disseminated online at http://www.beautifuldestruction.ca/bdexhibitiongall.html. Accessed December 18 2010.

  • Hitt, W. (1998). The Global Citizen. Columbus OH: Battelle.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollander, P. (2009). Contemporary political violence and its legitimation. Society, 46(3), 267–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hybels, R.C. (1995). On legitimacy, legitimation, and organizations: a critical review and integrative theoretical model. Academy of Management Journal, Special Issue (Best Papers Proceedings 1995), 241–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Isin, E.F. & Turner, B.S. (Eds.) (2002). Handbook of Citizenship Studies. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, C., Dowd, T.J., & Ridgeway, C.L. (2006). Legitimacy as a social process. Annual Review of Sociology, 32, 53–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joseph & Ginton (2010). The Tar Sands of Alberta: Exploring the Gigaproject Concept. Paper presented at Unwrap the Research Conference, Fort McMurray. Oct 22–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karlberg, M. (2008). Discourse, identity, and global citizenship. Peace Review: A Journal of Social Justice, 20, 310–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, G. (2009). The Oil Sands: Canada’s Path to Clean Energy? Cochrane, AB: Kingsley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klandermans, B. (1984). Mobilization and participation: social-psychological expansions of resource mobilization theory. Annual Sociological Review, 49, 583–600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, T.S. (1962). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Chicago: University of Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazuka, A. (2006). Communicative intention in George W. Bush’s presidential speeches and statements from 11 September 2001 to 11 September 2003. Discourse and Society 17(3), 299–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lessnoff, M. (1990). Social Contract Theory. New York: New York University.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacGregor, S. & Szerszynski, B. (2003). Environmental citizenship and the administration of life. Paper presented at the Citizen and the Environment Workshop, Newcastle University, September 4–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAdam, D. (1982). Political Process and the Development of Black Insurgency. Chicago: University of Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, D.S. & Staggenborg, S. (1996). Movements, counter movements, and the structure of political opportunity. American Journal of Sociology 101(6), 1628–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, J.W., & Rowan, B. (1977). Institutionalized organizations: formal structure as myth and ceremony. American Journal of Sociology, 83(2), 340–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohai, P. & Saha, R. (2006). Reassessing racial and socioeconomic disparities in environmental justice research. Demography, 43(2), 383–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Munroe, K. (1998). The Heart of Altruism: Perceptions of a Common Humanity. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nye, J. and Myers, J.J. (2002). The Paradox of American Power: Why the World’s Only Superpower can’t go it Alone. New York: Oxford University.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor, J. (1973). The Fiscal Crisis of the State. New York: St. Martin’s.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ong, A. (1999). Flexible Citizenship. Durham, NC: Duke University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pakulski, J. (1986). Legitimacy and mass compliance: reflections on Max Weber and Soviet-type societies. British Journal of Political Science, 16, 35–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pellow, D.N. (1999). Framing emergent environmental movement tactics: mobilizing consensus, demobilizing conflict. Sociological Forum, 14(4), 659–683.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, J.W. (2009). American poverty cause beliefs and structured inequality legitimation. Sociological Spectrum, 29(4), 489–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roche, M. (1992). Rethinking Citizenship: Welfare, Ideology and Change in Modern Society. Cambridge, UK: Polity.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rootes, C. (1999). The transformation of environmental activism: activists, organizations and policymaking. Innovation 12(2), 155–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubtsova, A. & T.J. Dowd. (2004). Cultural capital as a multi-level concept: the case of an advertising agency. Research in the Sociology of Organizations, 22, 117–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sassen, S. (2009). Incompleteness and the possibility of making: towards denationalized citizenship? Cultural Dynamics, 21(3), 227–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saul, J.R. (2005). The Collapse of Globalism: And the Reinvention of the World. Toronto: Viking.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaar, J.H. (1989). Legitimacy in the Modern State. New Brunswick, NJ : Transaction Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shellenberger, M. and Nordhaus, T. (2004). The Death of Environmentalism: Global Warming Politics in a Post-environmental World. Disseminated online at: www.thebreakthrough.org. Accessed Dec 15 2010.

  • Smith, M.J. (1998). Ecologism: Towards Ecological Citizenship. Buckingham, UK: Open University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, M.J. (1999). Thinking through ecological citizenship. In Smith, M.J. (Ed.) Thinking Through the Environment. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, M.J., & Pangsapa, P. (2010). Environment and Citizenship: Integrating Justice, Responsibility and Civic Engagement. London: Zed Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snow, D.A., & R.D. Benford. (1988). Ideology, frame resonance, and participant mobilization. International Social Movement Research, 1, 197–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suchman, M.C. (1995). Managing legitimacy: Strategic and institutional approaches. Academy of Management Review, 20, 571–610.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tambakaki, P. (2009). From citizenship to human rights: the stakes for democracy. Citizenship Studies, 13(1), 3–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Hout, D. (2007). Connecting the Drops Athabasca River Expedition. Disseminated online at http://www.connectingthedrops.ca/photos. Accessed December 18 2010.

  • Wong, S. & Sharp, L. (2009). Making power explicit in sustainable water innovation: re-linking subjectivity, institution and structure through environmental citizenship. Environmental Politics, 18(1), 37–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young, I.M. (1990). Justice and the Politics of Difference. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agriculture Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H1, Canada

    Debra J. Davidson

  2. Centre for Social Sciences, Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, T9S3A3, Canada

    Mike Gismondi

Authors
  1. Debra J. Davidson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mike Gismondi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Debra J. Davidson .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Davidson, D.J., Gismondi, M. (2011). Lessons from the Study. In: Challenging Legitimacy at the Precipice of Energy Calamity. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0287-9_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation