Green Giants? Environmental Policies of the U.S. and the E.U (original) (raw)

The review examines the environmental policies of the U.S. and the E.U., focusing on the interactions between environmental movements and state structures. It argues that the effectiveness of these movements in advocating for environmental policies varies significantly based on the nature of the state's political environment. Strong ecological modernization is more likely in contexts where civil society is robust and state exclusion is present, as observed in Germany. The paper contrasts this with the passive-inclusionist U.S. context, where environmental groups operate with less influence and co-optation often undermines their efforts. The review highlights the differing domestic interactions of U.S. and E.U. environmental groups and suggests that understanding these dynamics is crucial for grasping contemporary environmental politics.