Technology, Globalization, and Sustainable Development

"I am excited to see a new edition of this classic in environmental studies. Technology, Globalization and Sustainable Development is an indispensable tool for teaching sustainability, and a must-read for everyone concerned with environment, development and the future." —Giorgos Kallis, ICREA Research Professor, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain

"Whilst the debates around the sustainability agenda continue to progress and evolve, Ashford and Hall provide a lucid and prescient analysis of sustainability at a crossroads, influenced by several inter-related crises: financial, investment, production, consumption, employment, and environmental. This comprehensively revised and updated new edition of Technology, Globalization and Sustainable Development recognizes the multi dimensional character of sustainability and follows a transdisciplinary approach which stands out both for its clarity of argument and practical insights into where the solutions can be found, pulling no punches in identifying where responsibility for action lies. A clearer manifesto for change would be hard to find." — Richard Fenner, Professor of Engineering Sustainability, University of Cambridge, UK

"This text provides a superb distillation of a wide range of ideas on social science topics that are of critical importance today. If you read this you may find that you can put aside several shelves worth of books you had been planning to read! With excellently chosen quotes and references the authors show the interlinkages between the workings of the economy and the natural world, and the need to rethink employment, both in relation to the meaning of work for the workers, and the possibility of replacing dirty industries and deadening, inequality-increasing hierarchies with cooperative, profit-sharing, green forms of production. They present ideas on the concept of essential needs, and the need for a cultural/values transformation away from the current conception of the good life. If they are correct—and I believe they are – that" building a truly sustainable future will necessarily involve new theories, new paradigms, and new policies" – this book provides a firm foundation for doing so." — Neva Goodwin, Co-director, Global Development and Environment Institute, Tufts University, USA

"Environmental degradation, climate change, deteriorating health, and inequity: the challenges are well-known but urgent and effective action is needed now. This new book by Ashford and Hall provides a deep analysis of the root causes; which is necessary to develop speedy but effective solutions. In addition to innovative technologies and effective governance the focus in this book has shifted towards fulfilling basic needs, wellbeing, developing sustainable livelihoods, and the necessary transitions of the economic and governance systems. A must-read for policy makers and all concerned citizens." — Philip J. Vergragt, Boston, Associate Fellow, Tellus Institute, and Professor Emeritus of Technology Assessment, TU Delft, The Netherlands

"Just in time! A thoughtful, balanced antidote in a destabilized world. Makes a strong case for a clear agenda of transformative socio-technological development for improved sustainability, heightened social justice, and enhanced human happiness. Even better in this newly refined and updated edition." — David A. Sonnenfeld, contributing editor, Routledge International Handbook of Social and Environmental Change

"Where in the world can you find, in one book, competent professional state-of-the-art reference works on topics as diverse, yet vital, as the sources of income inequality, fundamental critiques of neo-classical economics, free trade vs. protectionism, the history of technology, theories of innovation and policies to promote it, organizational learning, employment policy, trans-boundary migration of pollution, financing sustainability, binary economics, and much, much more. The answer to that over-long question is short: This book, by Ashford and Hall is the answer. It is, to policy studies, what the OED is to ordinary dictionaries. It should be on the desktop of every policy professional and every student of (and in) the field. Responding to the tremendous amount of new scholarship since the first edition, in this significantly revised edition, the authors address the increasing importance of addressing global climate change and energy challenges; the revelations of the fault lines in the global financial system; the splintering of political alliances, such as in the European Union and in the UK with Brexit; the increasing challenges presented by economic, political, and environmental migrants; and the effects that both technological advances and trade are having on employment and earning capacity." — Robert U. Ayres, Novartis Professor Emeritus of Economics, Political Science, and Technology Management, INSEAD, France

"Ashford and Hall have produced a book of extremely ambitious scope and magisterial scale. This volume is simultaneously expansive and accessible and will be a hallmark of scholarly achievement for years to come. A generation of students, academics, policymakers, and practitioners—and perhaps the planet as a whole—will be beneficiaries of their impressive achievement." — Maurie J. Cohen, Professor of Sustainability Studies, New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA and Editor of Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy

"This book is...a graduate level textbook for technology, globilization and/or sustainability graduate-level courses. The authors do a good job on building and referring back to key concepts throughout the book. The value of this book is the breadth and depth of treatment of technology, globilization and sustainability" — Richard Smardon in Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences (2019); 9:250-252

"In an intense scholarly effort, Ashford and Hall [have] produced an impressive piece of scientific art....The value of the book for its readership is manifold" — Volker Mauerhofer in Ecological Economics (2019)