Environmental Sociology

The twin climate and energy crises shaping socioenvironmental and human vs non-human relationships within the Anthropocene pose critical challenges in our current planetary landscape. Predatory neo-colonial extractivism shapes these crises, exacerbating vulnerabilities and inequalities globally. In response, Environmental Sociology invites submissions that critically engage with the notions of materiality, brutality, and risk in decolonial readings of these crises.

The climate and energy crises are interlinked on several grounds.  The fossil fuel-intensive transformation of the world economy during the Anthropocene, and the range of composite forms of predatory neo-colonial extractivism on which economic growth unquestionably rests, stem out nowadays among some of themes calling for further research. The main objective of the proposed special issue of Environmental Sociology (ES) is to bring into the debate the challenging notions of materiality, brutality, and risk that, if taken as a whole, have an interesting potential for questioning mainstream narratives about the meaning, implications, and directionalities of the contemporary twin climate and energy crises.

We seek innovative contributions that challenge mainstream narratives and address the interplay between materiality, brutality, and risk in understanding the contemporary climate and energy crises. By bridging Sociology of Post-Carbon Society, Sociology of Development, and Science and Technology Studies (STS), we aim to unravel power dynamics, resource management tensions, and ethical considerations in governing these interconnected challenges.

Prospective contributors are encouraged to explore the experiences of marginalized communities in the Global South and North, the impacts of changing material bases of life, the ethical responsibilities regarding climate and energy crises, and the affective implications of environmental degradation. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogues and amplifying diverse voices, this special issue seeks to inform policy interventions, sustainable practices, and societal engagement with the multifaceted implications of the current environmental predicament.

Submission Timeline:

• Abstract submission deadline: September 01, 2024
• Draft of full papers for editorial review and feedback: January 31, 2025
• Submission to Environmental Sociology: March 31, 2025

We invite scholars and researchers to contribute original research that advances critical perspectives on materiality, brutality, and risk in the twin climate and energy crises. Join us in shaping a more comprehensive understanding of these pressing issues and exploring pathways towards a just and equitable future.

Please submit abstracts to [email protected]

Instructions for AuthorsSubmit an Article