Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences · Political Science and International Relations (English) · Undergraduate
Course Objective
This course is designed to introduce the students to the debates and discourses regarding the environmental issues and problems (i.e. climate change, biodiversity, ozone layer depletion, pollution, wilderness preservation, population growth, depletion of natural resources, food safety and so on) that humanity has started to experience since 1960s.
Course Content
Throughout the semester, we will be learning about four main discourses (their history, conflicts and transformations) that compete with each other in influencing environmental politics. These are, 1) environmental problem-solving, 2) limits and survival, 3) sustainability, and 4) green radicalism.
Required Resources
John S. Dryzek, The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourses, 2013.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Understanding major debates about environmental policies
- A general level of knowledge about a number of environmental issues, and about various discourses that have emerged along with that.
Core Area Distribution
Teaching Methods
Assessment & Evaluation
ECTS / Workload
| Activity | Quantity | Duration (h) | Total Workload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Duration (Including Exam Week) | 14 | 3 | 42 |
| Out of Class Study Period | 14 | 5 | 70 |
| Midterm | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Assignment | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Practice | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Final | 1 | 3 | 3 |
Course Schedule
| Week | Subject | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction: Making Sense of Earth's Politics | John S. Dryzek, “Making Sense of the Earth’s Politics: A Discourse Approach”, in The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourses, 2013, pp. 3-24. |
| 2 | Looming Tragedy: Limits, Boundaries, Survival | John S. Dryzek, “Looming Tragedy: Limits, Boundaries, Survival”, in The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourses, 2013, pp. 27-51. |
| 3 | Growth Unlimited: The Promethean Response | John S. Dryzek, “Growth Unlimited: The Promethean Response”, in The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourses, 2013, pp. 52-72. |
| 4 | Republican Day | No class |
| 5 | Leave it to the Experts: Administrative Rationalism | John S. Dryzek, “Leave it to the Experts: Administrative Rationalism”, in The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourses, 2013, pp. 75-98. |
| 6 | Leave it to the People: Democratic Pragmatism | John S. Dryzek, “Leave it to the People: Democratic Pragmatism”, in The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourses, 2013, pp. 99-121. |
| 7 | Leave it to the Market: Economic Rationalism | John S. Dryzek, “Leave it to the Market: Economic Rationalism”, in The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourses, 2013, pp. 122-144. |
| 8 | Midterm | See syllabus |
| 9 | Greener Growth: Sustainable Development | John S. Dryzek, “Greener Growth: Sustainable Development”, in The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourses, 2013, pp. 147-164. |
| 10 | Industrial Society and Beyond: Ecological Modernization | John S. Dryzek, “Industrial Society and Beyond: Ecological Modernization”, in The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourses, 2013, pp. 165-184. |
| 11 | Changing People: Green Consciousness | John S. Dryzek, “Changing People: Green Consciousness”, in The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourses, 2013, pp. 187-206. |
| 12 | New Society: Green Politics | John S. Dryzek, “New Society: Green Politics”, in The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourses, 2013, pp. 207-230. |
| 13 | The Idea of Gaia | Stengers, Isabelle. "Autonomy and the Intrusion of Gaia." South Atlantic Quarterly 116.2 (2017): 381-400. |
| 14 | Self-transformation and the ecological crisis | See syllabus |