Political Ecology

Catalog description

The interdisciplinary field of political ecology examines relationships between social and ecological systems to interrogate how politics and economics are shaped by nature and how nature is shaped by politics and economics. This course interrogates how political-economic processes drive environmental change and how conceptions of nonhuman nature are created through power and culture. The course introduces students to key theories in political ecology that explore ideas about capitalism, colonialism, and racism and investigates case studies of environmental issues and struggles over land and natural resources in the global South and North. This is a seminar designed for upper level students, but first-year students can contact instructor for permission. Fulfills social science track depth component in the environmental studies major and interdisciplinary minor. Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought requirement. Satisfies the Justice, Equality, and Community requirement.