This book explores the meaning of 'influence', which has played a central role in the formation of the canon, or tradition, of Western political thought. Via a critical overview of the relative fortunes of influence studies in the history of political thought, literary theory, and - at times - the history of art and poetry, it is possible to identify a dominant theory of the term. Nietzschean and 'emanational' in nature, thanks largely to the work of Harold Bloom, this particular theory views influence as mere power and represents a broadly accepted meaning in twentieth century thought. Canons or traditions of thought came to be institutions in themselves reflecting prevalent social and political inequalities. To be sure, a theory of influence as power came to be seen as complicit in arbitrary canon formation, across a range of disciplines. The book argues, ultimately, that a second theory of influence, imported from Mary Orr's work on intertextuality, affords a rival perspective and a more positive, intergenerational meaning of influence. Orr's 'braided rope' theory of influence allows for the development of a plurality of canons each capable of constructing new histories for a variety of epistemic communities. The existence of agonistic, rival canons presents pedagogical questions for all teachers of political theory, but one that can be potentially navigated by a new understanding of influence, in the Orrian tradition.

The liberal political theorist John Rawls, despite remaining largely silent on 'green concerns', was writing during a time of increasing awareness that the ecological stability of the earth is being compromised by human activity. Rawls's reluctance to engage with such concerns, however, has not stopped several scholars attempting to 'extend', or 'expand', his works to incorporate this newfound fear for the ecosystems that support human life. But why Rawls? What is to be gained from developing the ideas of a theorist whose primary aim was to establish a system of justice for contemporaneous, rational, and reasonable citizens of a liberal polity? This research monograph offers a critical consideration of the contextual framework within John Rawls's Political Liberalism and considers its compatibility with the conceptual process of 'greening'. Rawls and the Environmental Crisis argues that Rawls's perceived neutrality on green concerns is representative of a widespread societal indifference to environmental degradation and describes the plurality of methodological and ethical approaches undertaken by green political theorists in analyzing the contribution Rawls's theory makes to environmental concerns. Addressing a series of key debates within contemporary political philosophy regarding a wider frustration with liberal theory in general, Rawls and the Environmental Crisis will be of great interest to researchers in contemporary political philosophy, environmental ethics, green political theory, stewardship theory, and those interested in renewing existing conceptions of deliberative democracy.

Impending environmental crises have led to general consensus within green political thought that liberal principles of justice and green concerns make for uneasy bedfellows. This book critiques the contextual framework within which Rawls's political liberalism is assessed as suitable or unsuitable for 'greening'. It provides a detailed and comprehensive overview of the research done on the subjects of Rawls and environmental concerns. It challenges an emerging consensus within the existing literature that Rawls's political philosophy can only incorporate minimal green concerns by offering an alternative communitarian reading of Rawls's 'well-ordered society' that allows for the possibility of a 'darker' green, Rawlsian stewardship ethic. The book outlines the plurality of methodological and ethical approaches undertaken by green political theorists in analysing the contribution Rawls's theory makes to environmental concerns. The variety of approaches undertaken by theorists in this area highlight a certain arbitrariness of the 'tests' or 'standards' used to measure the green credentials of Rawls's political theory.Finally the book argues that attempts to rule out the green credentials of Rawls's theory form part of a wider disquiet, and even frustration, with the inability of liberal and procedurally-neutral polities to instil the requisite virtues and qualities of character to develop a new generation of environmental citizens able to address environmental crises. Rawls and Environmental Stewardship fills the gap for a much needed reassessment of 25 years of critiques of Rawls. This inspiring book is of great interest to researchers in contemporary political philosophy, environmental ethics, green political theory, stewardship theory and all those interested in renewing existing conceptions of deliberative democracy.