Topic Course: Political Ecology
one-way Exclusions
Course Description
The interdisciplinary field of political ecology highlights the central role of power and politics in shaping relationships between humans and their environments. It emerged in the 1970s and 1980s to challenge "apolitical" accounts of human鈥揺nvironment relations that rely on simplistic causal explanations linking population growth, poverty, environmental degradation, and social conflict.
In the first part of this course, we will explore the major theoretical, conceptual, and methodological approaches, as well as key debates, within political ecology. In the second part, we will examine a range of environmental issues across diverse socio-ecological contexts, including forests, agriculture, water, fisheries, and rangelands. We will also explore the transformative work of organizations, communities, and social movements that are developing innovative and more just approaches to addressing environmental challenges.
The overall goal of the course is to provide students with the conceptual tools and contextual understanding needed to analyze the complex relationships between human societies and the natural world. By the end of the course, students will be better equipped to critically assess environmental problems and to engage with pathways toward more equitable and sustainable futures.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze environmental issues using key concepts and theoretical perspectives from political ecology.
- Explain how historical, political, economic, ecological, and social processes shape environmental change and resource governance.
- Critically evaluate environmental conflicts and policies through the lenses of power, justice, equity, and sustainability.
- Apply political ecology frameworks to interpret empirical case studies from diverse geographical and cultural contexts.
- Communicate clear, evidence-based arguments in written and oral formats using relevant scholarly literature.