This text aims to place the question of the dynamics of environmental crisis in a socio-cultural dimension of the existing economic and political institutions. It argues for a need to find a balance between theoretical analysis of the debate and an appreciation of local circumstances and knowledge.

PART I. THE CULTURAL CONSTRUCTION FO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ; 1. Sustainable Development and the Crisis of Nature: On the Political Anatomy of an Oxymoron ; 2. The North as/and the Other: Ecology, Domination, Solidarity ; 3. Nature in Spiritual Traditions: Social and Cultural Implications for Environmental Change ; PART II. DISCOURSE IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND EXPERTISE ; 4. Engineering the Environment: The Politics of Nature Development ; 5. Eco-managerialism: Environmental Studies as a Power/Knowledge Formation ; 6. Mapping Complex Socio-Natural Relationships: Cases from Mexico and Africa ; 7. Security and Solidarity: Toward an Anti-Reductionist Framework for the Analysis of Environmental Policy ; PART III. ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCE ; 8. The Environment of Justice ; 9. Images of Place in Green Politics: The Cultural Mirror of Indigenous Traditions ; 10. Partnership Ethics and Cultural Discourse: Women and the Earth Summit

`Hajer and Fischer are to be congratulated for bringing together such a variegated collection of essays' Andrew Dobson, Political Studies Vol 49, No 2, June 2001 `the books appeal is that it addresses the need for a reappreciation of the importance of cultural diversity to counter the rationalising global discourse of sustainable development and it contributes to the debate about how to interpret sustainablity in the context of each community, its ecological imperatives, socail organisation and cultural beliefs. ... a useful and provocative set of essays that help alert us to the continuing need to challenge globalising discourses that assume cultural consistency and obedience to a western privileged worldview.' Malcolm Plant, Environmental Education Research, Vol. 7, No. 1, 2001 `I would recommend this book for its central aims, which are well conceived.' American Political Science Review `David Harvey provides a particularly useful overview of the principal environmentalist discourses to be found today.' American Political Science Review `fascinating collection of essays.' Peter Brand, Jnl. Envir. Planning & Mngmnt, 43(3), 2000. `This book is an excellent and focused reader, and contains accessible work for student seminars and a wealth of fecund material for reseachers. Most of all, perhaps, it should be on the bedside table of all technical experts on the environment.' Peter Brand, Jnl. Envir. Planning & Mngmnt, 43(3), 2000. `Living with Nature ... opens up new horizons by conceptualising environmental politics primarily as a cultural discourse.' Hein-Anton Van Der Heijden, Environmental Politics, Vol.9, No.2. `Sometimes, at most once a year, a book is published that shocks you and at the same time brings about a new order in your head. After reading you wonder how you ever could think differently. living with nature is such a book.' Hein-Anton Van Der Heijden, Environmental Politics, Vol.9, No.2.