Convincing people to go green

Managing Strategic Action by Minimising Political Talk

Datos Bibliográficos

ID4882870
AutoresJ A Lorenzen (0000-0001-9296-0671, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, autor de correspondencia)
Año2014
Volumen23
Número3
Páginas454-472
Fecha de publicación2014-05-04
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaEnvironmental Politics (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0964-4016 • E-ISSN: 1743-8934
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09644016.2013.859778
OpenAlexW2050103928
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas19
Referencias citadas43

At a time when the US public is deeply divided over how to address climate change, I investigate the way environmentally conscious actors attempt to recruit people to change their lifestyles and become more environmentally responsible. I draw on data from 45 interviews and participant observation with voluntary simplifiers, religious environmentalists, and green homeowners. Aware of the public’s aversion to discussing contentious issues such as climate change, informants focus on changing practices while downplaying political ideas and engagements. This is part of a pragmatic lifestyle change strategy which unites several persuasive techniques that include tailoring appeals to particular audiences, making ‘I feel’ statements, being role models, highlighting financial rewards such as the ‘win–win’ proposition, and the rare environmental appeal. I discuss how informants manipulate the lack of public political talk to their advantage in order to reach a wider audience. In this case, avoiding politics is not only active but strategic

Business · Political action · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Sociology · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Environmental Sustainability in Business · Law