Which authors argue that the concept of the Anthropocene is not neutral but a political one, shaping responsibility and governance?

• A. Carson, Rachel. Silent Spring
• B. Barry, Andrew, and Mark Maslin. The politics of the Anthropocene: a dialogue
• C. Parsons, Laurie. Skeletons, dragons and the 'climate war'
• D. Goudie, A. The Human Impact on the Natural Environment

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is that the Anthropocene is not a neutral scientific label but a political project that influences who is held responsible and how we govern environmental futures. Barry and Maslin treat the Anthropocene as a site where science, policy, and power collide, showing how naming and framing the epoch can steer accountability and governance in particular directions. Their dialogue foregrounds questions like: who bears responsibility for planetary change, which actors get to define the problem, and what kinds of rules, regulations, or institutions are invoked to manage risk and drive action? In this view, the concept itself becomes a tool that shapes policy agendas, shifts perceived duties, and legitimizes certain pathways of governance over others.

Other works touch on environmental harm, culture, or the relationship between humans and nature, but they do not center on the Anthropocene as a political instrument that explicitly shapes responsibility and governance in the way Barry and Maslin do.