Community on Land: Community, Ecology, and the Public Interest

This book looks to the history of the 'the commons' in American and European social thought to better understand contemporary environmental problems. The authors show how American law governing lands and resources relies on the individualist assumptions of Enlightenment thinkers, who regarded land as 'wasted' when not being 'improved' by European agriculture or colonization. Curry and McGuire trace the history of this philosophical and historical legacy and reveal its strong influence on American concepts on community and land. They not only reveal the law's insufficient comprehension of community rights, but they also advocate realistic policy alternatives whereby community governance can better solve the challenges of resource management and other American social problems.

This book looks to the history of the _the commons_ in American and European social thought to better understand contemporary environmental problems. The authors show how American law governing lands and resources relies on the individualist assumptions of Enlightenment thinkers, who regarded land as _wasted_ when not being _improved_ by European agriculture or colonization. Curry and McGuire trace the history of this philosophical and historical legacy and reveal its strong influence on American concepts on community and land. They not only reveal the law's insufficient comprehension of community rights, but they also advocate realistic policy alternatives whereby community governance can better solve the challenges of resource management and other American social problems.

Booknews

Curry (dean for research and scholarship, Calvin College, Michigan) and McGuire (sociology, Muskingum College, Ohio) examine the European legacy of agriculture and colonization on American concepts of community and land. Focusing on the social and environmental consequences, they advocate community governance as a policy alternative. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Janel M. Curry is the dean for research and scholarship at Calvin College in Michigan. Steven McGuire is associate professor and chair of the sociology department at Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio.