121-208 Society and Environments

Note

Available as 121-308 at 3rd-year level.

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

25 points of first year Sociology or Geography or Environmental Studies or approval of the subject coordinator.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject tackles the broad question of the relationship between society and environments. Students will be introduced to some important conceptual tools for thinking about this relationship. These include the ways in which capitalism structures social/environmental relations; the notion of the social construction of the natural world; and role of the state in environmental management and regulation. Students will address these broader themes through a range of interesting and relevant case material drawn from western and non-western examples as well as from mainstream and alternative spheres of society. This course will ask students to think about some of the following questions: How 'wild' is 'wilderness'? What do zoos tell us about social organisation? What is environmental racism? How can we conceive of environmental justice? Can western society really learn environmental 'wisdom' from Fourth World 'elders'? Has the state a meaningful role in sustainable development? What does it mean to be 'green'? Who owns nature? Students completing this course will develop an appreciation of the different theoretical frameworks which assist in understanding the relationship between society and environment, as well as learn to understand the differing social constructions of the environment.

Assessment

A 1.5 hour final examination (30%); one tutorial presentation and short written paper (15%); one 3000 word essay (55%).