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Building on cornerstone traditions in historical sociology, as well as work in environmental sociology and political-economic sociology, we theorize and investigate with moderation analysis how and why national militaries shape the effect of economic growth on carbon pollution. Militaries exert a substantial influence on the production and consumption patterns of economies, and the environmental demands required to support their evolving infrastructure. As far-reaching and distinct characteristics of contemporary militarization, we suggest that both the size and capital intensiveness of the world’s militaries enlarge the effect of economic growth on nations’ carbon emissions. In particular, we posit that each increases the extent to which the other amplifies the effect of economic growth on carbon pollution. To test our arguments, we estimate longitudinal models of emissions for 106 nations from 1990 to 2016. Across various model specifications, robustness checks, a range of sensitivity analyses, and counterfactual analysis, the findings consistently support our propositions. Beyond advancing the environment and economic growth literature in sociology, this study makes significant contributions to sociological research on climate change and the climate crisis, and it underscores the importance of considering the military in scholarship across the discipline.

Rural individuals and places face major vulnerabilities in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet how and why rural residents adopted preventive behaviors as a result is not well understood. Using cross-sectional data from an online panel survey of Utahans along the rural-urban continuum collected in June of 2020, we find that, overall, rural Utahans were less likely than their more urban counterparts to adopt preventive behaviors. Those who perceived less risk, knew someone sick with COVID-19, thought former President Trump was doing a good job handling the pandemic, and had false optimism about the pandemic, along with those with less formal education and of a lower economic class, were also less likely to adjust some of their behaviors. Given that COVID-19 and its variants continue to spread, and because other viral outbreaks are likely, a better understanding of preventive behavior along the rural-urban continuum and what shapes it is essential for health-related policymaking including encouraging vaccine uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the environmental impacts of energy production and consumption is part of addressing climate change. Prior research finds political-economic factors shape climate change views, perceptions of and policy support for renewable and nonrenewable energy, and pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). This study contributes to research in these three areas by empirically testing the anti-reflexivity thesis, which posits that forces defending the industrial capitalist system are sources of anti-reflexivity, obstructing critical self-evaluation and societal action to address climate change. Using OLS and logistic regression analysis of survey data from respondents in five states in the US Intermountain West region, we find empirical support for the effect of anti-reflexivity on climate views, energy policy support, and PEBs. We also find that PEBs in the Intermountain West still largely occur in the realm of personal conservation actions rather than being politically focused, collectively organized, or leading toward systemic change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic production has been increasing since mass production of plastics started in the 1950s. As plastic production has continued to rise, so has plastic waste. Meanwhile, international trade in plastic waste has increased as well. The narrative about global trade in plastic waste oftentimes is that the Global North transfers waste to the Global South. However, little is known quantitatively about the extent to which the Global North shifts environmental harms of plastic waste to the Global South. We examine the extent to which global trade in plastic waste provides evidence for ecologically unequal exchange relationships from 2003 to 2013. We then explore whether plastic waste can be a resource for some countries. Specifically, we investigate how trade in plastic waste is associated with level of economic development in high-income countries and non-high-income countries. The findings provide nuanced evidence of ecologically unequal exchange relationships between high-income countries and non-high-income countries in plastic waste trade. The results also indicate that higher plastic waste import is associated with greater economic development in non-high-income countries. This research advances our understanding of the theory of ecologically unequal exchange in the context of international trade in plastic waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research in macro comparative environmental sociology analyzes both environmental and human well-being outcomes of urbanization. The carbon intensity of well-being (CIWB) concept simultaneously measures environmental and human well-being. Here I ask how various types of urbanization, an underexplored concept in the CIWB research, contributes differently to the CIWB of nations. Using longitudinal two-way fixed effects Prais-Winsten regression models for the years 1990-2011 for 78 countries, I find that level of development and urbanization are associated with higher CIWB, as are the percentage of urban populations with access to improved water and sanitation; conversely, urban slum prevalence is associated with lower CIWB. Comparing more versus less developed countries, I find the results are especially robust for lower-income countries. I also find that overall population access to water and sanitation is associated with lower CIWB. The findings suggest directions for sustainable development that take into account different forms of urbanization and both rural and urban population well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors assess the extent to which particular characteristics of economic globalization at the national level influence the likelihood of individuals expressing concern for the natural environment. The globalization characteristics of interest include relative levels of exports, measured as exports as percent total gross domestic product (GDP), and the vertical flow of exports, measured as the percent of total exports sent to high-income countries (HICs). Results of multilevel logistic regression analyses of more than 48,000 individuals within 37 nations indicate that the two characteristics have opposite effects on environmental concern, net of various country-level and individual-level factors. In particular, exports as percent of total GDP lessens the likelihood of environmental concern, whereas percent exports to HICs increases the likelihood of individuals expressing concern for the environment. The results highlight the need for the development of theorization that considers the complex interrelationships between environmental concern and economic globalization characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the findings of a study conducted by researcher A. M. McCright and colleagues on the beliefs of people on anthropogenic global warming and climate change in the U.S. The author finds that the sociological approach that the researchers have applied shows the influence of political orientation on people's beliefs and perceptions on climate change. She suggests frequent change monitoring to see if political views remain a stronger influencing factor of global warming beliefs.