Beach Politics
Social, Racial, and Environmental Injustice on the Shoreline
By NYU Press | Publisher: NYU Press
About the book
Explores how elites restrict access to public beaches around the globe
Beaches are a beloved form of public space. Yet there has been an alarming global trend of restricting access to public sections of beaches to ensure that waterfront property owners can enjoy the shoreline exclusively or develop the land for commercial use.
Beach Politics examines how over the past forty years, privatization of public space has accelerated with the help of both local governments and national corporations. On a local level, this can entail a group of wealthy neighbors purposely blocking off public beach access in their neighborhood: hiring security guards, building fences, or putting up “No Trespassing” signs to turn away members of the public who have every right to be there. On a state or national level, it can manifest as gated communities owned by private corporations sectioning off huge swaths of land, limiting access, or governments promoting private, rather than public, development along the shoreline. Whenever disputes about land use arise, the powers that be often side with private interests and the wealthy over those with fewer resources and, frequently, people of color. With the continuing threat of climate change, decisions about how and where to harden or protect the shoreline often limits public use.
Focused on beaches, access to public space, and social justice, this book brings together powerful contributions illustrating how these issues are inextricably bound with socioeconomic status, racial segregation, and climate justice. Together they highlight how, through illegal actions and exclusionary legislation, the beach can be transformed from “a strip of nature” into a palimpsest of greed, racism, ecological disregard, and socioeconomic discrimination.
Editions of Beach Politics
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781479821945
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781479821952
Read an Excerpt
Explores how elites restrict access to public beaches around the globe
Beaches are a beloved form of public space. Yet there has been an alarming global trend of restricting access to public sections of beaches to ensure that waterfront property owners can enjoy the shoreline exclusively or develop the land for commercial use.
Beach Politics examines how over the past forty years, privatization of public space has accelerated with the help of both local governments and national corporations. On a local level, this can entail a group of wealthy neighbors purposely blocking off public beach access in their neighborhood: hiring security guards, building fences, or putting up “No Trespassing” signs to turn away members of the public who have every right to be there. On a state or national level, it can manifest as gated communities owned by private corporations sectioning off huge swaths of land, limiting access, or governments promoting private, rather than public, development along the shoreline. Whenever disputes about land use arise, the powers that be often side with private interests and the wealthy over those with fewer resources and, frequently, people of color. With the continuing threat of climate change, decisions about how and where to harden or protect the shoreline often limits public use.
Focused on beaches, access to public space, and social justice, this book brings together powerful contributions illustrating how these issues are inextricably bound with socioeconomic status, racial segregation, and climate justice. Together they highlight how, through illegal actions and exclusionary legislation, the beach can be transformed from “a strip of nature” into a palimpsest of greed, racism, ecological disregard, and socioeconomic discrimination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Beach Politics about?
Explores how elites restrict access to public beaches around the globe
Beaches are a beloved form of public space. Yet there has been an alarming global trend of restricting access to public sections of beaches to ensure that waterfront property owners can enjoy the shoreline exclusively or develop the land for commercial use.
Beach Politics examines how over the past forty years, privatization of public space has accelerated with the help of both local governments and national corporations. On a local level, this can entail a group of wealthy neighbors purposely blocking off public beach access in their neighborhood: hiring security guards, building fences, or putting up “No Trespassing” signs to turn away members of the public who have every right to be there. On a state or national level, it can manifest as gated communities owned by private corporations sectioning off huge swaths of land, limiting access, or governments promoting private, rather than public, development along the shoreline. Whenever disputes about land use arise, the powers that be often side with private interests and the wealthy over those with fewer resources and, frequently, people of color. With the continuing threat of climate change, decisions about how and where to harden or protect the shoreline often limits public use.
Focused on beaches, access to public space, and social justice, this book brings together powerful contributions illustrating how these issues are inextricably bound with socioeconomic status, racial segregation, and climate justice. Together they highlight how, through illegal actions and exclusionary legislation, the beach can be transformed from “a strip of nature” into a palimpsest of greed, racism, ecological disregard, and socioeconomic discrimination.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Beach Politics?
Society and Social Sciences > Sociology and anthropology > Sociology
Where can I read a sample of Beach Politics?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781479821945
How long is Beach Politics and how many pages does it have?
Beach Politics has 344 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Beach Politics?
NYU Press
Who is the Publisher of the book Beach Politics?
NYU Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Beach Politics is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781479821945) and paperback(ISBN 9781479821952)
Where can I buy Beach Politics online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Beach Politics from below
Where can I buy Beach Politics?