Ecological Crisis and Democracy

Recommended Prerequisites

Fluency in written and oral English; Knowledge of techniques and styles of academic writing.

Teaching Methods

The seminar is based on regular classes that include a general presentation of the topic by the lecturer, followed by students’ extensive discussion of the texts assigned for each class. The texts will be made available in the section ‘material de apoio’ of Nónio.  

Learning Outcomes

This course aims to offer a global overview of the ecological crisis in its multiple interconnections: politico-economic, cultural, epistemological, and governmental. Students are expected to learn about the historical processes that led to the current crisis, as well as the different impacts of environmental problems to diverse social groups in different geo-historical contexts (the so-called ‘environmental inequalities’), while also recognizing their trans-scalar nature and global implications. The course’s ultimate goal is for students to acquire the ability to develop new and imaginative ways of conceptualizing nature/society relationships in different geo-political and cultural contexts, in order to contribute to the formulation of more inclusive, democratic and socially just environmental policies. Special attention will be given to the new institutions and legal frameworks which rule the environmental domain.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Introduction to the course: scope and research methods in Political Ecology

2. Nature, modernity, and the (post)colonial world system

3. Property rights and the environment

4. Economic growth and socio-environmental costs

5. Environmental inequalities and global environmental (in)justice

6. Risk society: science, technology and social mobilization

7. The emergence of the ecological crisis as a political issue

8.  The bio-politics of climate change

9. For a critique of neo-liberal ‘green economy’

10. Labour movements and the environment

11. Power, resistance and ecological movements

12. Environmental justice: from movements to critical theory

13. New institutions and legal frameworks in the environmental domain

14. Conclusion: un-disciplinary thinking in Political Ecology

15.  Discussion of students’ essay proposals.

Head Lecturer(s)

Stefania Barca

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Periodic or by final exam as given in the course information : 100.0%

Bibliography

Acselrad H. et alii (2008), O que é Justiça Ambiental, Garamond

Armiero, M., Sedrez L. (2014), A History of Environmentalism: Local Struggles, Global Histories, Bloomsbury

Beck, U. (2009), World at Risk, Polity Press.

Bullard, R. D. (2007), Growing Smarter: Achieving Livable Communities, Environmental Justice, and Regional Equity, MIT Press.

Castells M. (2000, 2^nd ed.), The Rise of the Network Society, Blackwell.

Luke T. W. (2011), “Environmentality”, in J. S. Dryzek, et alii (2011) The Oxford Handbook of Climate Change and Society, Oxford University Press

Martinez-Alier, J.(2005), The environmentalism of the poor: a study of ecological conflicts and valuation, Oxford University Press

Peets, R.et alii (2011), Global Political Ecology, Routlege

Rancière, J. (1992); “Politics, Identification, and Subjectivization", October, n  61, pp. 58-64

 

Sandler, D. and Pezzullo, P. (2007, eds.) Environmental justice and environmentalism. The social justice challenge to the environmental movement, MIT Press