B7204 - Sem. Environmental Crime & Green Criminology

Learning outcomes

The seminar aims to introduce students to the field of green criminology. At the end of the seminar, students will be able to: - understand key ways of thinking criminologically/sociologically about ecocide, environmental crime and harm, and their control/prevention; - identify and critically assess core theoretical approaches and ideas in the field of green criminology; - independently apply these approaches and ideas to case studies; - critically engage with key themes in green criminology through weekly readings and the class discussion.

Course contents

How can we grasp the significance of actions or inactions that are not criminal, yet generate serious harms to humans, other species and entire ecosystems? Who or what causes ecocide – and why? On whom or what do environmental harms mostly fall? How is environmental crime represented in popular cultural forms – and why does that matter? How best to tackle environmental harm, crime and ecocide?

 

This seminar addresses ecocide as well as the harms, crimes and conflicts related to the current climate emergency through distinctive criminological lenses. The core theoretical orientation of the seminar is green criminology—a perspective grounded in critical criminology, yet open to multidisciplinary approaches, including those from law, socio-legal studies, and sociology.

 

Attendance to at least 70% of the seminar's sessions is mandatory for all students.

The seminar is part of the two-year Master's program in Legal Studies and is also open to Erasmus students.

Readings/Bibliography

Weekly readings will be made available on Virtuale. Students are expected to read at least one academic text before each class.

 

For a general overview of green criminology, see South and Brisman (2013) Routledge International Handbook of Green Criminology, 1st ed. Available in the library.

Teaching methods

Sessions will include brief lectures combined with group exercises and whole-class discussions. Throughout the seminar, students are expected to thoroughly read the assigned materials and actively engage in discussions.

Assessment methods

Written examination consisting of three questions at the end of the seminar. Alternatively, students may choose to give a group presentation during the seminar. The presentation will be graded and will reduce the written examination to two questions.

 

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Power point presentations, audio-visual materials.

Office hours

See the website of Anna Di Ronco