The Wise Use Movement: An Analysis on the "Hands-Off" Approach to Environmentalism

Voiceover

Presenter(s)

Regan Smith

Abstract or Description

Since the conception of environmentalism, politics and clashing ideals have always played a role in execution of environmentalist ideals: what methods are best to use, who should see the results, and how exactly we should define what the environment is. By researching different groups that claim to promote environmentalism, the Wise Use movement came up frequently. Founded in the late 1980’s, the Wise Use movement has no formal organization but is backed by a common ideology: the government should play as small of a role as possible in protecting the environment. By the turn of the 21st century, the Wise Use movement had gained momentum by catching the attention of extractionist corporations and large seemingly anti-environmentalist groups. By framing the claims and goals of the Wise Use movement through an environmental geopolitics lens, I was better able to understand how and why the Wise Use movement takes anti-environmentalism to new levels by advocating for a “hands-off” approach to environmentalism, which includes advocacy for anti-government protections of many aspects of the environment. Though the movement denies science at its core, it utilizes common libertarian views such as limited government interference and freedom of the individual to gather a following, which in turn garners support from those who seek freedom from the government and not those who are truly committed to environmentalism. Further research is needed to understand the true scope and impact of this movement, especially in the 21st century.