THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Social and Political Science : Politics

Undergraduate Course: Global Food Politics (PLIT10127)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis 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.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Introduction to Politics and International Relations (PLIT08004) OR Politics in a Changing World: An Introduction for non-specialists (PLIT08012)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Students who have not taken Introduction to Politics and International Relations (PLIT08004) OR Politics in a Changing World (PLIT08012), but have taken a similar course, should contact the Course Organiser to confirm if they are eligible to take this course.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting 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 **
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Situate the study of the global food politics within the larger fields of International Relations and International Political Economy.
  2. Evaluate key terms such as food security, sustainable intensification, and the human right to food.
  3. Explain how power, interests, institutions and ideas shape the global politics of food.
  4. Differentiate between the goals and effects of international policies and practices aimed at ending world hunger.
  5. Present - in written and verbal form - coherent, balanced arguments about important topics in the study of global food politics.
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
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.
KeywordsPolitics,Food,Food Security
Contacts
Course organiserDr Matias Margulis
Tel: (0131 6)51 1311
Email: matias.margulis@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Daniel Jackson
Tel: (0131 6)50 8253
Email: Daniel.Jackson@ed.ac.uk
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