Recent studies have underscored the significance of environmental and ecological movements and ideologies that emerged in the 19th century. These movements arose in response to the unintended negative consequences of modernity, notably the evidently harmful side-effects of the Industrial Revolution on both the environment and society. Such movements and the early ecological concepts they introduced can be seen as precursors to modern environmentalism, laying the groundwork for alternative views on the relationship between humans and nature. Many of these perspectives remain relevant today. For instance, in countries like Germany, Switzerland, and the Scandinavian nations, ideologies such as Friluftsliv (translated as “free air life”) and Lebensreform (“life reform”) gained traction. These philosophies (or ideologies) highlighted the intrinsic value of nature and the need for living in harmony with the environment. They also emphasized the imperative to safeguard nature for the future generations rather than exploiting it here and now. This shift in mindset gave rise to countercultural movements, which in turn spurred the creation of numerous institutions dedicated to spreading the environmental message broadly worldwide. Over time, these institutions and movements established various traditions of environmentalism and subsequent climate justice movements, in many countries, setting the stage for major environmental milestones like Earth Day in 1970.

This call for papers aims to delve deeply into the vast array of environmental and ecological ideas and movements, with a specific emphasis on their evolution since the 19th century on a global scale. We aim to examine the factors that catalyzed their development and transformation, investigate their interplay with other environmental movements across various nations or regions, and explore the extent to which these movements have fostered the construction of ecologically conscious societies at a broader national level, and potentially reframed national identities through an environmentally-focused lens.

At the heart of this Research Topic is the notion that, among other distinguishing elements, green communities—be they localized or national in scale—are bound together by a shared ecological ethos and a commitment to environmental preservation. An illustrative case of grassroots mobilization for environmental protection is the lawsuit “State of the Netherlands v. Urgenda Foundation” in 2019. In this landmark case, approximately 900 Dutch citizens legally challenged their government to compel a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and take decisive steps against climate change—and they prevailed. Such groundbreaking initiatives would be unattainable without a robust ecological tradition informing and empowering civil society and its various (public and private) institutions.

Greener communities are distinguished not just by environmental ideas and activism but also by the incorporation of these ideas into their governing frameworks through the adoption of environmental policies and sustainable practices. This evolution gave rise to the concept of “Green Nationalism” (Karkour, 2023; Arantes, 2023; Posocco and Watson, 2022; Conversi and Posocco, 2022), wherein environmentalism becomes deeply ingrained within both social fabrics and broader political systems. That said, transitioning successfully to a green paradigm, especially if the goal is to address large communities such as nations, demands coordinated strategies encompassing national bureaucracies, the judiciary, and law enforcement agencies (Posocco and McNeill, 2022). While international collaboration is pivotal to tackle global environmental issues, the nation-state—often operating under narrower nationalist principles that prioritize its own interests over collective global welfare—remains a significant player in the enactment and enforcement of sustainable policies. This raises other pivotal questions at the core of this Research Topic:
Can we cultivate variants of nationalism that are more environmentally oriented, potentially serving as ideologies challenging climate change and environmental degradation? Is it possible for environmentalism and ecologism to intersect with nationalism, culminating in new iterations of green nationalism? Do instances of this ideal combination exist?

In addition to examining the historical and sociopolitical aspects of environmental movements, this Research Topic also aims to explore the phenomenological tradition and its perspective on human-environment relations. Originating from the works of philosophers like Husserl and Heidegger, and their legacy, phenomenology also focuses on the lived experiences of individuals in their interactions with the natural world, offering a nuanced understanding of the human-nature relationship. This approach provides a critical lens for investigating how environmental ideologies and movements have been influenced by and have shaped individual and collective experiences of nature. By integrating phenomenological insights, this issue seeks to deepen our understanding of environmental movements, particularly their impact on societal attitudes towards nature and the development of environmental consciousness. This exploration will illuminate the subjective and collective dimensions of environmental engagement, revealing how personal and group experiences and perceptions shape broader environmental discourses and actions.

In light of these insights, we invite submissions for a Research Topic exploring the origins, development, and influence of environmental ideas and movements in countries worldwide since the 19th century. This collection aims to analyze the complex relationships between environmental activism, nationalism and national identity, the nature-human relation, policy-making, and the shaping of urban and regional landscapes.

We invite contributions addressing the following research questions:

How have environmental-ecological ideas (and ideologies) originated and evolved in different countries since the 19th century? What catalysts have driven their development and subsequent transformations? How are these intertwined with environmental activism? To what extent have environmental movements and ideas facilitated the molding or reimagining of nations, states, and nationalism in more ecologically oriented forms? Consequently, how have they influenced environmental policy-making at the local, national, and global scales? More in detail, in what ways have environmental movements impacted both public and private civic institutions? Did they play a pivotal role in sparking mass demonstrations and amplifying citizen involvement in environmental matters?
What enduring impacts have these movements and ideologies imparted on urban development, regional landscapes, and architectural frameworks within their respective nations? What’s the phenomenology of the human-nature relation, and how did it impact on the development of environmental movements? How do phenomenological approaches contribute to our understanding of human-nature relationships in the context of environmental crises?

We welcome interdisciplinary contributions from scholars in fields such as history, political science, sociology, geography, earth studies, urban planning, and cultural studies. Comparative studies examining environmental movements and their impacts across different countries or regions are particularly encouraged.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

From Roots to Revolution: Tracing the Global Evolution of Green Ideas and Movements since the 19th Century