93222 - Geographies and Environmental Politics(1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

Students will acquire knowledge and critical analysis tools on global governance policies and related multi scalar socio-environmental transformation processes. The student will also be able to reconceptualise the relations between society and environment and to analyse the power and socio-political dimension of environmental and territorial transformations. The theoretical and conceptual framework will be linked to empirical case-studies focused on resources governance processes and on the role of local communities and socio-environmental movements.

Course contents

The course focuses on the critical analysis of political processes and socio-environmental relations from the global to the local scale and it is divided into three parts.

• Evolution of politics and socio-environmental relations over the last decades. The focus is on the critical analysis of politics and environmental governance mechanisms at the global scale with regard to Anthropocene/Capitalocene debates, ecologic crisis and climate change
  

• The theoretical and conceptual approach of Political Ecology in the analysis of the power and socio-political dimension of environmental governance and transformations. Through diverse case-studies, this part explores socio-environmental conflicts and related movements, environmental and resources privatization processes, turistification and gentrification dynamics.

• Apply Political Ecology: socio-environmental research methodology with regard to the urban context and its transformations. This part includes an overview on concepts and practices of socio-environmental research and fieldwork on urban regeneration processes in Bologna

Readings/Bibliography

STUDENTI FREQUENTANTI

• Bandiera M. Bini V. 2020. The Territories of Political Ecology: Theories, Spaces, Conflicts. Geography Notebooks 3(2). (Contributi di Bandiera e Bini, Zinzani e Torre)
• Robbins, P. 2004. Political Ecology, A Critical Introduction. Wiley Blackwell (Parte 1 e 2)
• Perreault, T. et al.. 2015. The Routledge Handbook of Political Ecology. London and New York: Routledge (Introduzione)
• Paper di ricerca socio-ambientale (5000 parole) e relativa presentazione

STUDENTI NON FREQUENTANTI

Gli studenti non frequentanti si presenteranno all'esame orale preparando due testi più parti di altri tre testi:

• J. W. Moore, Antropocene o capitalocene? Scenari di ecologia-mondo nella crisi planetaria, Ombre corte, 2017
• Bandiera M. Bini V. 2020. The Territories of Political Ecology: Theories, Spaces, Conflicts. Geography Notebooks 3(2). (Contributi di Bandiera e Bini, Zinzani e Torre)

• Robbins, P. 2004. Political Ecology, A Critical Introduction. Wiley Blackwell (Parte 1 e 2)
• Perreault, T. et al.. 2015. The Routledge Handbook of Political Ecology. London and New York: Routledge (Introduzione)

Un testo a scelta fra:

• Leonardi, E, Lavoro, Natura, Valore. Andrè Gorz tra Marxismo e Decrescita, Orthotes Editrice 2017

• Torre S., Contro la frammentazione, Movimenti sociali e spazio della politica, Ombre corte, Verona 2018

• Pellizzoni L. Conflitti Ambientali, il Mulino, Bologna, 2011

• Keucheyan R. La natura è un campo di battaglia - saggio di ecologia politica, Verona, Ombre Corte 2019

• Harvey, D. 2016. Il Capitalismo contro il diritto alla città: Verona: Ombre corte

• Pellizzoni, L., Osti G., Sociologia dell'Ambiente, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2006.

• Faggi P.P., Turco A., Conflitti Ambientali, Unicopli, Milano 2001
  
  
• Zinzani A. The Logics of Water Policies in Central Asia: the IWRM implementation in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, LIT Verlag, Zurich, 2015.

 

• Chakrabarty D., La sfida del cambiamento climatico - Globalizzazione e Antropocene. Ombre Corte, 2021.

Teaching methods

The course is characterized by participatory lectures with the active involvement of students. During the first lesson the lecturer provides informations about the bibliography and other teaching tools and instruments. Books and journal articles become subject for the debate in the following meetings.

The third part of the course is characterized by fieldwork in order to analyze socio-political and territorial processes in the urbanscape

Attending students should therefore regularly be present at the course, at least more than 80% of the lessons.

Assessment methods

Attending students have to elaborate an original paper related to one of the topics examined during the course. Paper subject will be previously discussed with the professor. The student will receive additional indication and bibliography to develop the paper.

Final evaluation will consider paper originality, the capacity to exploit a proper vocabulary, relevant for political ecology and socio-environmental research as well as a correct written expression. Also the ability to interact in the debate during the course will be considered as part of the final grade.

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

For non-attending students is expected an oral exam concerning the study of bibliography. Final evaluation will consider the capacity to understand and explain theories and case studies presented in the books, as well as a correct oral expression and proper vocabulary.

FINAL GRADES

Perfect and critical interpretation of the arguments and proper vocabulary and enunciation: excellent (27≤30L)

Concise and rote learning presentation, less original: between good (24≤26) and passable ((21≤23)

Minimal exposition and poor originality: passing grade (18≤20)

Teaching tools

Lectures, PPT, maps and pictures

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Zinzani