ABSTRACT
Anthropology still has a long way to go in establishing its role in environmental discourse, and in convincing other participants of the value of that role. This book is intended as a step along the way, not as a definitive and final statement. What follows is a selective review of the ground covered on this exploratory journey, and a glance forward at where it might lead. The arguments pre sented in this book have implications for three main areas of interest. First, within anthropology, the exploration of ways in which the discipline might contribute to environmental discourse has generated ideas which have consequences both for cultural theory in general and for the analysis of contemporary human culture. Second, the identification of a role for anthropology brings into focus its relationship with the other social sciences and raises questions about the development of interdisciplinary approaches. Finally, there is the potential influence of cultural analysis on environmental discourse itself: the messages anthropology holds for environmentalism.
