Political Ecology and Environmental Just (013IDS)
Political Ecology and Environmental Justice
Module 013IDS
Module details for 2021/22.
30 credits
FHEQ Level 6
Module Outline
Who controls food production? Should we all be vegan? What are the consequences of decarbonizing energy production and transportation? How does carbon offsetting work? What is extractivism? How are indigenous groups mobilising against environmental violence, pollution, infrastructure developments and resource extraction? In this module, we engage with these and other environmental justice concerns through the lens of political ecology. Political ecology is a broad set of theoretical and methodological approaches (incorporating feminist political ecologies, urban political ecologies and decolonial political ecologies) that helps us to understand the relationship between environmental change and social (in)justice. In the first section of the course we will explore the origins of political ecology in currents of human geography, anthropology and ecological Marxism, examine the emergence of critical challenges from feminist and decolonial political ecologists, and explore the relationship between political ecology and other disciplines such as science & technology studies. The second section of the course will provide you with the methodological and practical training required for your assignments. The third section of the course will consist of a series of case studies drawing on current issues of political ecological concern (for example, meat consumption, Green New Deals, lithium mining). Your assessments for this course will encourage you to approach political ecology as a ‘public facing’ discipline that engages with social movements: in Week 9 you will submit a short group-produced podcast highlighting an environmental justice concern, drawing on your emerging understanding of political ecology analysis. These could be global or local in scope (for example, fracking, environmental racism and air pollution, carbon offsetting, pipeline developments on indigenous territories). The final assessment will be a long-form blog submission designed to enhance public understanding of a contemporary environmental justice concern.
Module learning outcomes
Demonstrate a systematic knowledge and understanding of key theoretical perspectives on political ecology and environmental justice
Critically reflect on the ideas, theories and assumptions underpinning contemporary policies and movements for addressing environmental (in)justice
Critically analyse cases of environmental (in)justice in a range of geographical contexts, drawing on approaches from political ecology
Independently identify and explore appropriate case studies, and communicate environmental (in)justice concerns to a public audience
Critically apply knowledge of political ecology analysis to make judgements and recommendations in relation to contemporary case studies of environmental (in)justice
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Essay (3000 words) | Semester 2 Assessment Week 1 Mon 16:00 | 60.00% |
| Coursework | 40.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Group Presentation | T2 Week 9 (10 minutes) | 50.00% |
| Report | T2 Week 9 | 50.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Semester | Seminar | 3 hours | 11111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Dr Paul Gilbert
Convenor
/profiles/275733
Dr Anna Laing
Assess convenor, Convenor
/profiles/397849
Dr William Lock
Convenor, Assess convenor
/profiles/174669
Prof Anne-Meike Fechter
Assess convenor
/profiles/158737
Prof Grace Carswell
Assess convenor
/profiles/34117
Mr Fred Fordham
Assess convenor
/profiles/647713
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