F1ES 4350 - Politics of the Anthropocene: Critical Perspectives.

This course draws on the environmental social sciences and on the environmental humanities to introduce students to some of the main paradigms and traditions of critical environmentalism (eg. environmental justice, ecofeminism, ecomodernism, deep ecology, decolonial environmentalism, etc.). Through the study of emblematic cases and movements, we will investigate the intellectual history of the varieties of environmentalism, their political and conceptual roots, as well as the epistemological positions and methodological approaches that support them. For each of them, we will ask ourselves if and how they challenge our way of thinking about nature/the environment/the Anthropocene.

Learning Outcomes

• Fully comprehend the breadth and depth of contemporary environmentalism
• Learn how to unveil the values and frictions underlying political claims for the environment
• Discover and critically appraise some of the seminal texts, theories and discursive strategies underlying the (critical) environmental movement
• Develop an understanding of compelling critiques of scientific inquiry related to the environment without, at the same time, playing into the hands of deliberate anti-science agendas

Professional Skills

• Analytical skills required to study and work further in the field
• Academic writing, including the search for, assimilation and synthesis of academic sources, and the construction of an analytical, accurate and well-presented piece of work.
• Speaking and presentation skills, including how to convey and synthesize complex ideas
• Reading skills: how to identify the key arguments and evidence used in a piece of writing and critically appraise these.

Feedback will be provided throughout the year during classes.

Assessment:

This course assumes a willingness to engage in critical reading and active discussion (20% of final mark).

A paper will be due by the last session of the course on a topic of the student’s choice related to one of the sessions (60%).

Approximately mid-way through the course, students will present a brief written outline of the paper and make a brief presentation about the relevance of the chosen topic to the group (20%).

Course workload:

• In Class Presence: 4 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 8 hours a week for 6 weeks / 50 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation of presentation paper outline: 20 hours a semester
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 50 hours a semester