Political ecology originated in the 1970s, but its real expansion occurred in the 1980s and 90s. Today, political ecology is a leading source of innovative research on issues linked to poverty and the environment. The framework of the analysis in political ecology is centred on the idea of a politicised environment. It explores the main actors involved in this management and their interests, aims, norms and narratives. This again leads into an investigation of power and power relations in environmental management. Lectures and discussions will deal with topics such as the the theoretical roots and history of political ecology, discourse and narrative analysis, winners and losers of global environmental change, land reform, and community-based conservation and its critique.

The chief aim of this course is to strengthen the students´ interdisciplinary understanding by exposing the students to the different theoretical trends in the emerging field of political ecology and to empirical studies on resource and environmental management that are based on political ecological approaches. The course will investigate the links between local, national, and global levels of environmental management. It will further seek to develop among students a capacity of critical thinking.

Two-hour lectures twice a week. In addition, there will be some seminars led by students

The responsible teacher is available for support and additional explanations in his office.

Text Book: Paul Robbins, Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction. Oxford UK: Blackwell Publishing. 2012, ISBN 1-4051-0266-7 (pbk) and in addition a collection of articles

BSc degree

EDS305, EDS101 and EDS 130

All students must participate in a presentation at the group seminars. Students must participate in a minimum of 80% of these seminars

Exam in ENGLISH ONLY. Two individual term papers of five pages each (counting 50%) based upon course lectures and readings and a final oral exam. The oral counts ca 50 % of the total grade. Results from the term papers will be available in Canvas two to three weeks after submission. Students must pass all three exam activities to pass the course.

Lectures (40 hours), group seminars (12 hours) and reading/writing (248 hours). 300 hours student work in all.

Relevant Bachelor degree or equivalent

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There will totally be approximately 40 hours of lectures. In addition, there will be 12 hours group seminars.

The target group for this course is students of environmental sciences who are interested in policy issues as well as students of development studies interested in environmental issues.

An external examiner will read a sample of the term papers to check the grading done by the teacher. The examiner will also participate in the oral exam.