Magnus Boström is Professor of Sociology at Örebro University, Sweden, with expertise in environmental sociology and the sociology of consumption. His current research focuses on the social drivers behind unsustainable mass consumption, as well as the conditions for lifestyle change and more collective ways of sharing resources.

Rolf Lidskog is Professor of Sociology at Örebro University, Sweden, with expertise in environmental sociology, environmental politics, and risk regulation. He is currently conducting research on international environmental governance, focusing on its conditions and the role of expertise.

Chapter 1. Crisis: The need for social transformation

The five facets of the social

Are we facing a civilizational crisis?

Social transformation

The five thematic issues of the book

References

Chapter 2. Causes: The social roots of environmental problems

Macrosocial explanations: What has caused the current environmental situation?

Microsocial explanations: Why don't we live in an ecologically sustainable way?

Meso-social explanations

A question of power

Conclusion

Questions for reflection and discussion

References

Chapter 3. Distributions: The social spread of environmental problems

Social stratification: Class, gender, ethnicity

Environmental (in)justice

How inequality causes environmental problems and prevents action

Conclusion

References

Chapter 4. Understandings: The social sense-making of environmental problems

From fact-finding to sense-making

Storylines and frames: Making environmental issues meaningful

Claims and counterclaims in environmental storylines and politics

Conclusion

References

Chapter 5. Barriers: Social resistance through inadequate solutions

Barriers to transformation

Piecemeal solutions and the problem-solving mindset

Ten critical questions to reveal inadequate solutions

Conclusion

References

Chapter 6. Transformation: Ways of changing society

What does transformation mean?

Social transformation and the five facets of the social

A final word

References