Connecting with political power: social movement activism and environmental law

Connecting with political power: social movement activism and environmental law

What can historians of the environment movement offer those
interested in environmental law? The two fields are so disparate that we thought we should provide a brief outline of the nature of social movements before discussing interconnections and the common interest in aspects of law reform. Social movements are notoriously unstable and fluid phenomena and their history and influence can only be understood in the light of this temperament. Yet they aim to extend the limits of the social system, which brings them directly into the legal arena. This article briefly outlines the nature of the environment movement and its need to connect with political power. It then discusses some of the environment movement's recent struggles in Queensland in order to highlight the many obstacles that social movements face in their interactions with political power. Even when successful, environmental victories can be undermined by public servants who fail to enforce new environmental laws and standards. We conclude that the environment movement has to fight not only for environmental reform, but also for increased accountability measures.