Undergraduate Course: Global Food Politics (PLIT10127)
Course Outline
School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
Summary | This seminar-based course delves into the global politics of food. Students will develop a deep understanding how power, institutions and ideas shape the production, consumption and access to food on a global-scale. |
Course description |
Achieving global food security is a major international challenge. It is often assumed that hunger is caused by inadequate food supply, however, it is widely acknowledged that states, markets and institutions play vital roles in both causing and solving global food insecurity. The global politics of food is a growing area of interest in the fields of International Relations and International Political Economy.
This seminar-based course delves into the global politics of food. Students will develop a deep understanding how power, institutions and ideas shape the production, consumption and access to within and between countries. It begins by analysing the key actors, international institutions and ideas shaping the global politics of food. It then shifts to contemporary debates about the solutions and challenges to world food insecurity, including political contests over competing models of food production, trade liberalization, food as a weapon of war, and the international human right to food. Students taking this course will come to understand the global politics of food and critically assess the efficacy and fairness of, and possible alternatives to, current international institutions and policies.
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Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have completed an upper-level course in International Political Economy or Global Security. Visiting students should also have at least 4 Politics/International Relations courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses.
** as numbers are limited, visiting students should contact the Visiting Student Office directly for admission to this course **
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High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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Academic year 2019/20, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 30 |
Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
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Lecture Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
80 %,
Practical Exam
20 %
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Additional Information (Assessment) |
Participation 10%: Students will lead seminar discussion and are expected to participate by undertaking a series of discrete tasks that includes answering weekly questions on assigned readings, short presentations, leading seminar discussion, undertaking additional research and other group work as determined by the instructor. Marks will be based upon the quality and quantity of participation.
Presentation 10%: Presentation by students in the tutorial that goes into depth about a specific reading, issue or event related to the week's topic. Topics will be provided by the instructor.
Analysis of an International Policy Document 30% (1500 words, students will read and critically analyse an international policy document related to a key issue in global food politics. I will provide a list of policy documents and an instructional guide and specific marking criteria)
Research Paper 50% (2500 words, will provide students with the opportunity to research and analyse a major contemporary issue (selected from a list provided by the instructor or, with the instructor's approval, developed themselves) related to global food politics)
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Feedback |
All assignments will be returned with feedback within 15 working days of submission |
No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Situate the study of the global food politics within the larger fields of International Relations and International Political Economy.
- Evaluate key terms such as food security, sustainable intensification, and the human right to food.
- Explain how power, interests, institutions and ideas shape the global politics of food.
- Differentiate between the goals and effects of international policies and practices aimed at ending world hunger.
- Present - in written and verbal form - coherent, balanced arguments about important topics in the study of global food politics.
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Reading List
Clapp, J. (2016). Food. Oxford, Polity Press.
Singh, J. P. and S. Gupta (2016). "Agriculture and its discontents: Coalitional politics at the with special reference to India¿s food security interests." International Negotiation 21(2): 295-326.
Newell, P., et al. (2018). "Governing Food and Agriculture in a Warming World." Global Environmental Politics 18(2): 53-71
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Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
In-depth knowledge of the global politics of food.
Critical thinking and analytical skills.
Advanced research skills.
Effective written and oral communication skills.
Global citizenship.
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Keywords | Politics,Food,Food Security |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr Matias Margulis
Tel: (0131 6)51 1311
Email: matias.margulis@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Daniel Jackson
Tel: (0131 6)50 8253
Email: Daniel.Jackson@ed.ac.uk |
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