Engendering the Environment? Gender in the World Bank's Environmental Policies

Priya A. Kurian, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

• Contents: Theoretical Perspectives: Introduction; Theorizing gender: a framework of analysis; A gender evaluation of EIA theories; Women, development and environment: implications for EIA. A Case Study of the World Bank: The rhetoric of gender, gendered rhetoric: EIA in the context of the world bank’s social policies; The world bank’s EIA policy; The Sardar Sarovar project: history and politics; EIA in practice; Revisiting gender and EIA; Appendices; Bibliography; Index.

’Priya Kurian’s book shows with a much-needed clarity how to protect human rights and the environment so that we can guarantee our humanity and the humanity of future generations across the world...’ Professor Kum-Kum Bhavnani, University of California, USA ’...pioneering...this book illustrates the practical utility of feminist theory...it is indispensable to our rethinking international development policy, environmental impact assessment, and environmental policy more generally.’ Robert V. Bartlett, Purdue University, USA ’...a wonderful text for teachers and students of the environment, and gender studies, and a fine practical tool for all development workers in the field...this is a welcome (and overdue) contribution to the field which I hope will be a major influence in the decades ahead.’ Marilyn Waring, Massey University, New Zealand ’Feminist critiques of the World Bank or the environment and development are not new, but what makes this book relevant and interesting is that she [the author] combines the analysis of theory with that of practice, as practised by one of the multilateral lending institutions...This work will be of interest to activists as well as academics and policy-makers. If the reader is interested in environment, gender and development issues, the this book will be of much relevance to him or her.’ Environmental Politics ’...raises vital questions and issues for consideration of development theorists and practitioners alike.’ Progress in Development Studies 'The strength of the book is the analysis of changes in the World Bank's policies and how they played out in India.' Contemporary Sociology