Responding to Climate Change: Barriers to Reflexive Modernization in U.S. Agriculture
Abstract
The authors apply Ulrich Beck’s theory of reflexive modernization to examine how farmers in the United States perceive and respond to climate change. Using a case study, the authors identify diversions from Beck’s original theory and explore the importance of social constructionist and political economy perspectives. The article focuses on corn farmers in southwestern Michigan to examine climate risk recognition and reflexive responses, concentrating on the role of nitrogen fertilizer as a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Results from interviews, focus groups, and a mail survey indicate that dualistic worldviews and exposure to limited and/or biased information can inhibit farmers from acknowledging climate change as a risk. In addition, structural barriers inhibit farmers from reducing nitrogen fertilizer application in response to climate change. These findings offer insights applicable to climate change mitigation efforts and also demonstrate the importance of both social constructionist and political economy perspectives to identify barriers to reflexive modernization.
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Biographies
Diana Stuart is an Assistant Professor with a joint position in Sociology and at the Kellogg Biological Station at Michigan State University. Her work focuses on issues related to agriculture, natural resources, and the environment while theoretically engaging with concepts from environmental sociology, political economy, and science and technology studies.
Rebecca L. Schewe is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Mississippi State University. She specializes in rural and environmental sociology with a focus in the political economy of food and agriculture.
Matthew McDermott is a MS candidate at the Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies at Michigan State University. His research interests are on producer perceptions of environmental stewardship and constraints to farm management decisions regarding environmental quality.
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Article first published online: September 6, 2012
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