Learning objectives
At the end of the course, it is expected that students will be able to:
• define some key concepts related to the study of political ecology;
• evaluate the role of local communities and social movements in environmental management;
• reflect on the global and local influences of environmental practices and policies;
• develop critical and analytical thinking through the writing of a short text and discussions during the classes;
• develop research skills (documents analysis, possible interviews) by updating a form related to an environmental conflict.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
Political ecology can be defined as the (trans)discipline that analyzes environmental issues, considering not only their ecological dimensions but also the political, economic, and cultural ones, thereby focusing on how power and inequalities influence the use of natural resources, environmental management, and the impact of human activities on the environment.
The course will provide students with an overview of the main concepts and debates of political ecology. The first part of the course will provide these tools, focusing on some cross-cutting aspects such as: environmental justice and environmental conflicts, the role of environmental and ecofeminist movements, structural approaches vs. everyday practices, the Anthropocene. The second part of the course will be focused on a specific approach, that of "world-ecology", through the analysis of some specific themes, particularly the following four: food, energy, labor, raw materials. Attending students will be required to produce a short text on one of these themes (1000-1500 words) and make a presentation in class: these presentations will be an opportunity for collective discussions. Moreover, during the course, each student will work on updating a case for the Italian Atlas of Environmental Conflicts by filling out a form that will be provided and explained in detail during the first classes of the course. Since the course is organized into two weekly sessions (one of 2 hours and one of 4 hours), part of the 4-hour session will be dedicated to working on this form, in order to clarify any doubts the students may have.
Full programme
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Bibliography
The course is based on the following texts, which—together with the slides—also constitute the material to be prepared for the exam:
Luigi Pellizzoni (a cura di, 2023), Introduzione all’ecologia politica, Il Mulino, Bologna. [Introduction to Political Ecology]
Raj Patel e Jason Moore (a cura di, 2018), Una storia del mondo a buon mercato. Guida radicale agli inganni del capitalismo, Feltrinelli, Milano. ['A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things]
All course materials, including slides, can be downloaded from the Elly platform by accessing the course site for 'Political Ecology and Environmental Conflicts.' Non-attending students are especially recommended to check the available teaching materials and the instructions provided by the professor through the Elly platform.
Teaching methods
The course uses and integrates various teaching methods: lectures; interactive lessons; lessons with guest speakers; guided tours; practical exercises.
Assessment methods and criteria
The exam evaluation for attending students is 'ongoing' during the course period and consists of two parts:
1. A critical study of the topics covered during the classes and in the textbooks. By 'critical study,' it is meant that not only (and not so much) the repetition of learned concepts will be valued, but also their elaboration, including critical reflection, which may differ from what is presented by the professor and textbooks. However, this critical elaboration must be supported by solid arguments, even based on personal insights. This will be assessed through the writing of a short text and a presentation on one of the four themes/chapters analyzed during the course (food, energy, labor, raw materials: chapters 1, 3, 5, 6 of the book 'A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things'). This part will constitute 50% of the final evaluation.
2. The update of a case of environmental conflict described in the Italian Atlas of Environmental Conflicts (https://it.ejatlas.org/). This part will constitute the remaining 50% of the final evaluation. This work of update and analysis will then be discussed during the exam. It is therefore necessary to submit the final version of the report at least one week before the exam date.
In addition to the four chapters of the book 'A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things,' attending students must consult the following chapters of 'Introduction to Political Ecology' (Pellizzoni): 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 16.
Non-attending students are required to prepare the two volumes in their entirety, without producing the written text and without working on the environmental conflict case. For non-attending students, the assessment will be 100% through an oral exam to verify their mastery of the basic concepts and theories of the discipline and their ability to sustain reasoning and critical discussion.
The exam evaluation criteria are as follows: knowledge of the course content; ability to express oneself clearly and coherently; ability to formulate judgments independently and critically. Students will be deemed insufficient if they are significantly lacking in the aforementioned criteria. A low or medium-low grade (18-23/30) will be awarded to a student who demonstrates an acceptable level according to the aforementioned criteria; a medium or medium-high grade (24-27/30) will be awarded to a student who demonstrates a good level according to the aforementioned criteria; a high grade (28/30 and above) will be awarded to a student who demonstrates an excellent level according to the aforementioned criteria, achieved also through personal insights. The grade will be communicated to all (both attending and non-attending students) at the end of the oral exam.
Other information
Announcements regarding changes to office hours, exams, or other matters are communicated on the professor’s personal page: https://personale.unipr.it/it/ugovdocenti/person/245835. Exceptionally, ad hoc communications may be added via email.
The professor holds online meetings on the Teams platform, by prior arrangement via email (niccolo.bertuzzi@unipr.it).
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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