Evolution of a Movement: Four Decades of California Environmental Justice Activism

Tracy E. Perkins

Published by University of California Press 2022

Evolution of a Movement

Four Decades of California Environmental Justice Activism

Tracy E. Perkins

https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520976344

Overview
Contents

About this book

Movement Matters offers a new lens for understanding the environmental justice movement in the United States. Using California case studies from the past three decades, Perkins explores the successes and failures of the environmental justice movement in one of the country's most environmentally progressive states. She traces how demographic, political, and economic forces have shaped the development of the environmental justice movement in the states and explains why that matters for national EJ activism.

Drawing on archival research and 125 interviews with activists from Sacramento to the California-Mexico border, Perkins explains the long history of environmental justice activism in California, complicating the accepted origins of environmental justice in the US South. Perkins shows why some EJ activists have moved away from the "outsider" political tactics common in the movements' early days to "insider" political tactics, working from within the state's political system to enact change. This shift has created tension between EJ activists around institutionalization. Some activists see it as a sign of the growing sophistication of social movements, while others critique its potential to blunt grassroots power. At a time when environmental justice scholars and activists face pressing questions about the best route for enacting meaningful change, this book provides insight into social movement institutionalization and assesses the strengths and limitations of this development.

Author / Editor information

PerkinsTracy:

Tracy E. Perkins is Assistant Professor in the School for Social Transformation at Arizona State University.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
List of Illustrations Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	xi
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	xv
Introduction: Environmental Justice Activism Then and Now Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1. Emergence of the Disruptive Environmental Justice Movement Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	22
2. The Institutionalization of the Environmental Justice Movement Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	49
3. Explaining the Changes in Environmental Justice Activism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	82
4. Kettleman City: Case Study of Community Activism in Changing Times Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	114
5. California Climate Change Bill AB 32: Case Study of Policy Advocacy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	151
Conclusion: Dilemmas of Contemporary Environmental Justice Activism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	187
Appendix: Arguments for and against the Environmental Justice Lawsuit Brought against the California Air Resources Board Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	203
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	205
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	233
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	263

Language: English
Publisher: University of California Press
Pages
- Main content: 302

eBook

Published: April 5, 2022
ISBN: 9780520976344