Postgraduate Course: Political Ecology (GEGR11001)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Postgraduate Courses (School of GeoSciences) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The global scale and complexity of current environmental issues has prompted a number of critiques of mainstream environmentalism. This course explores a range of different theoretical approaches to nature-society issues within Geography and related disciplines including: political and cultural ecology, social nature(s), animal geographies, environmental ethics and environmental feminisms. The ways in which environmental problems intersect with issues of social justice are a central focus of this course. In addition, the manner in which theory shapes our understanding of what counts as environmental issues will be emphasised. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | 14:00 - 17:00 | | | |
| First Class |
Week 1, Tuesday, 14:00 - 17:00, Zone: Central. G.10 Drummond Library Annex, High School Yards (Drummond Street) |
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Course aims:
&· to expand students&© knowledge of current theoretical debates on the relationships between nature and society
&· to explore the intersections of environmental issues with the social construction of difference including gender, race, class and caste
&· to examine the relationships between socio-economic development and environmental change
&· to understand the importance of theory in shaping human relationships with the environment
&· to expand students&© abilities to think critically and evaluate different approaches to global environmental issues
|
Assessment Information
300 word abstract of essay topic (10%) Due 12noon Tuesday 14 February 2012
4000 word essay (90%) Due 12noon Tuesday 20 March 2012 |
Special Arrangements
| Availability for visiting students is dependant upon demand from internal students. |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
1. Introduction: key themes and key concepts; Wilderness and Nature
2. Property and the Commons
3. Political Ecology in the Third World (and essay topic development)
4. Conservation
5. Political Ecology in the First World$ûESSAY TOPIC ABSTRACTS DUE
6. INNOVATIVE LEARNING WEEK$ûSEE ANNOUCEMENTS
7. Social Nature
8. Science studies and political ecology, new frontiers
9. Environment and conflict, special guest, Nancy Peluso. ESSAY WRITING WORKSHOP
10. Environmental Justice
11. Concluding seminar--REQUIRED
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| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Bryant R L, (1998) "Power, Knowledge and Political Ecology in the Third World: A Review" Progress in Physical Geography 22(1), 79-94.
Cronon, W. (1996). The Trouble with Wilderness; or, Getting Back to the Wrong Nature. Uncommon Ground: Rethinking the Human Place in Nature. W. Cronon. New York, W.W. Norton and Company: 69-90.
Castree, N. (2001). &«Socializing Nature: Theory, Practice, and Politics.&ª Social Nature: Theory, Practice and Politics. N. Castree and B. Braun. Oxford, Blackwell.
Fitzsimmons, M. (1989). "The Matter of Nature." Antipode 21(2): 106-120.
Ostrom E, 1992, "The Rudiments of a Theory of the Origins, Survival, and Performance of Common-Property Institutions", in Making the Commons Work: Theory, Practice, and Policy Eds D Bromley, (ICS Press, San Francisco) pp 293-318.
Peet, R., & Watts, M. (2004). Liberation Ecologies: Environment, Development and Social Movements (second ed.). London: Routledge.
Sundberg, (2004) J. Identities in the making: conservation, gender, and race in the Maya Biosphere reserve, Guatemala, Gender, Place and Culture 11 (1) (2004), pp. 43$ú66.
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| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | GEGR11001, Political, culturwal ecology, animal geographies, environmental ethics |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Andrea Nightingale
Tel: (0131 6)50 2526
Email: andrea.nightingale@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Caroline Keir
Tel: (0131 6)50 2543
Email: caroline.keir@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 6:09 am
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