Political Economy of Climate Change through Film

Catalog description

Why do countries least responsible for climate change - like the Maldives - face the greatest risks, and how do politics and corruption deepen this injustice? This course explores the politics of climate change through the lens of film, examining how visual storytelling can expose the complex relationship between power, corruption, and climate vulnerability. Through coursework and field visits in and around Male, the capital of the Maldives, students will learn about the politics of climate change and how this is impacting this low-lying archipelago nation. They will meet and film interviews with local activists, politicians, eco-resort operators, and conservation scientists to understand the environmental, economic, and political challenges they face. Fieldwork across multiple islands will deepen their insight into the risks of climate change to the economy, to the Maldivian people, and to the environment. The course culminates in student-produced short films that explore the interplay between politics and climate; following the film screenings, students will assess which are most useful for their ability to inform audiences and shift their beliefs. This course will be offered in June-Term 2026. This course will be taught in the Maldives and will count as an Away J-Term course.