The Business of Global Environmental Governance

Abstract

Review: The Business of Global Environmental Governance By David L. Levy and Peter J. Newell (Eds.) Reviewed by Elery Hamilton-Smith Charles Sturt University, Australia David L. Levy and Peter J. Newell (Eds.) The Business of Global Environmental Governance. Cambridge, MA : The MIT Press. 2005. 360 pp. ISBN 0-262-62188-6 Pbk.) $US27.00. Traditional approaches to both international relations as a discipline and environmental governance and management have all too often been simplistic. Levy and Newell have set out to develop a more powerful conceptual basis for finding insight into and understanding of the new dynamics that have evolved as major companies play an increasing role in environmental policy and practices. They are concerned to encompass “ . . . the rich and complex process of bargaining and negotiation among a range of actors, most importantly firms, industry associations, NGOs, state agencies and international organisations (which can also serve as a forum for these negotiations).” (page 5) They propose a paradigm for understanding based in Antonio Gramsci’s concept of hegemony. In brief, Gramsci saw human decision making and behavior as often being based in a series of inter-related and consensual hegemonic beliefs that arise from both political and civil society. His framework certainly provides an intellectual environment within which beliefs can be negotiated or determined by interaction within any level of society from the global to the individual; at the same time, it provides for understanding the vertical influence from each level to the others. Although Gramsci was never able to complete his very complex project, he has inspired many others to take his ideas and apply them in a range of areas. The coherence and value of the resulting neo-Gramscian theories have continued to increase and are now a central tool in many theoretical contexts. So, it is no surprise that Levy and Newell have built upon this foundation. Other contributors to the volume have applied their paradigm in a diversity of arenas where business now plays a central role in negotiating environmental governance. Some tackle such issues as climate change, protection of the ozone layer, genetic engineering, water supply and control of toxins, while others examine the processes of lobbying, construction of alliances, the ISO as a regulatory mechanism, insurance and security. From my own experience, I regret some of the omissions, particularly issues