The Power of Narrative provides fresh insight into the rhetorical and semantic properties on both sides of the climate change debate that preclude dialogue around climate science, and proposes a means for moving beyond ideological entrenchment through language mediation, further ethnographic study, and research-informed teaching.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements Preface Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Ideology as Narrative Chapter 3. When Skepticism Became Public Chapter 4. Skeptics Without Borders Chapter 5. Unpacking the Genetic Meta-Narrative Chapter 6. The Social Construction of Climate Science Chapter 7. Ideological narratives and beyond in a post-truth world Bibliography Index

"Scholarly yet accessible to a variety of readers, including undergraduates ... this thought-provoking work is especially commended to scholars and students of environmental studies and the sciences, political science, communication, and journalism." -- C. A. Badurek, CHOICE "The book feels remarkably fresh because it tracks steadily along the narrow path of rationality and does not get distracted by fraught engagements with the flawed arguments of those it studies. The result is an achievement of moderation and focus that is unique among media about science skepticism.... Lejano and Nero's The Power of Narrative traverses the crowded field of misinformation studies to offer valuable information on a notoriously slippery concept." -- Ryland Shaw, International Journal of Communication "Scholarly yet accessible to a variety of readers, including undergraduates, this text ably complements prior works on climate skepticism, scientific opinion, and media, such as Merchants of Doubt, by Naomi Oreskes. This thought-provoking work is especially commended to scholars and students of environmental studies and the sciences, political science, communication, and journalism. Highly Recommended." -- C. A. Badurek, CHOICE "Throughout their analysis, the authors maintain their unbiased stance and avoid the use of absolutist terms like 'denialists' from the very beginning. Their inclusion of the other part of the story DS the narrative of climate science, its danger of becoming an ideology and the need for climate scientists to consider how they use their authority when publicly addressing any scientific issueDLprovides a comprehensive understanding of narratives.... [I]t lays the paving stone for approaching the construction of the whole climate change debate while putting on our critical lenses." -- Sneha Biswas, LSE Review of Books "If you have wondered how the science of climate change became a hot-button political question deeply embedded in the Left-Right polarization in the United States, this book is for you: The Power of Narrative explains the history of climate change skepticism and offers clues for resolving our current dilemma." -- Anne H. Ehrlich, Senior Research Scientist, Emerita, Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, Stanford University "Lejano and Nero bring the full power of narrative analysis to bear in explaining how and why the storytelling of groups and organizations rejecting the reality and seriousness of climate change has been so strongly embraced in the American public. Indeed, their signature contribution is explaining how the evolving ideological narrative of climate change disbelief and the coalitions promoting this narrative are co-constituted, resulting in greater political polarization on climate change and the rise of echo chambers over time. Their work on the cultural resonance of climate change disbelief is an essential complement to other bodies of work that have documented the financial resources, organizational structure, and political strategies of the climate change denial machine." -- Aaron M. McCright, Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Sociology, Michigan State University "The Power of Narrative examines the ways in which narrative contributes to the cultural divide over climate change. While political actors can promote the climate skeptical narrative as motivated by self-interest, its meaning for members of the general public is quite different, often weaving experience and ideology into a sense of personal identity and group solidarity. This book offers valuable insights for improving the efficiency of efforts to make headway on climate policy DL any climate scientist or activist could benefit from the fundamental perspectives offered here by Lejano and Nero." -- James S. Clark, Nicholas Professor of Environment, Duke University

Raul P. Lejano is a Professor at New York University where he teaches environmental policy and sustainability education. He applies his expertise in the complex logics of collective action to the design of the resilient city, addressing vulnerabilities to climate change and environmental hazard, and environmental justice. Shondel J. Nero is Professor of Language Education at New York University. She is a Fulbright scholar whose research critically examines the linguistic and educational experiences of Creole English speakers in the US and the Caribbean, language and identity, and language education policy.

Selling point: Offers fresh insight into why climate skeptical narratives can compete with the scientific narrative of climate change Selling point: Provides extended narrative and critical discourse analysis of climate skeptical texts Selling point: Introduces new tools and methods for narrative analysis for science and technology scholars and policy makers Selling point: Probes policy controversies to explore the importance of narrative in constructing a network around ideological belief systems