Continuities in Sociological Human Ecology (The Springer Series on Demographic Methods and Population Analysis)

This superb overview of sociological human ecology over the past 50 years engages the subject in terms of conceptual and theoretical issues, and in its empirical application to practical problems. The text focuses on the idea of sustainable development, asking what conditions are necessary for humanity to achieve continued improvement in standards of living. Contributors review issues of demographic change and environmental protection in sketching out the means of managing the Earth's fragile ecosystem in the decades to come. They emphasize that fundamental changes in human patterns of activity and organization are making sustainability an increasingly realistic policy goal.