ABSTRACT

The editors’ introduction maps the field of cultural sustainability by giving an overview of the state of research and its lacunae. Meireis and Rippl address the role of the humanities and social sciences in working towards a sustainable future. They discuss the impact of cultural products on the inner dimensions of sustainability, on social, cultural and personal values, on consciousness-raising processes, as well as on notions of well-being and happiness. In a next step, some of the central theoretical concepts at the heart of the book’s debates are discussed. The introduction ends with an outline of the book’s structure and concise summaries of the individual contributions.