Environmental Sociology
Code: 106752 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2504604 Environmental Sciences | FB | 1 | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- Guillermo Sala Lorda
- Email:
- guillem.sala@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject. Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2023.
Prerequisites
No prerequisits.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The basic objective of this subject is to provide adequate knowledge of the main tools and concepts that have been formulated in the social sciences for the study of the environment and the relationships between humans
and the environment.
The fact that it is a first-year subject means that it has an introductory vocation and, therefore, the topics will focus on a small volume of basic but essential concepts to continue further training.
Specifically, the history and recent evolution of environmentalist social movements will be discussed. The main theoretical models will be introduced to explain the relationships between environment and society,
with special emphasis on the analysis of socio-environmental conflicts.
An analysis will be made of the different study perspectives of the social perception of risk and its implications in political, social and cultural terms.
Learning Outcomes
- CM09 (Competence) Identify aspects related to ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and obligations, diversity and democratic values throughout the development of environmental projects.
- CM10 (Competence) Identify in the field of the environment the origin of potential inequalities based on sex/gender.
- CM11 (Competence) Work independently when tackling problems and practical sociological cases from the environmental field.
- CM12 (Competence) Transmit the basic sociological information associated with an environmental problem to members of the general public appropriately.
- KM16 (Knowledge) Identify the basic relationship between the principles and foundations of Sociology and environmental processes.
- KM17 (Knowledge) Recognise the history and recent evolution of environmental movements.
- KM18 (Knowledge) Recognise the impact of human activities and behaviour on the environment.
- KM19 (Knowledge) Identify the main sociological dimensions of a global world.
- SM17 (Skill) Collect and analyse sociological data and observations related to the historical evolution of the relationships between nature, society (social theories and the environment) and culture.
- SM18 (Skill) Express yourself using language in line with fundamental sociological information, clearly, explicitly and briefly.
Content
1. Nature / society relations
The Society-Nature duality: an anthropological perspective
The economic system and natural 'resources'
The dialogue between the Social Sciences and the Natural Sciences
Environmental vectors: water, energy, waste, food, biodiversity, territory and urban planning, air quality and climate change (these vectors will also appear in the other sections of the program)
2. Contemporary environmental concerns
Origins and evolution. Different theoretical interpretations (causes based on technology, economics, politics, institutions, social constructionism, etc.).
Ecological explanations: Chicago School (Park, Burgess, etc.); Model POET (Duncan); HEP-NEP model (Catton & Dunlap), etc.
Explanations from political economy: Model Wheel of production (Schnaiberg); Second contradiction of capitalism (O'Connor); Popular environmentalism (Martínez-Alier); Society of Risk (Beck), etc.
From the Ecological Modernization debate (Mol and Spargaaren) and the alternatives: degrowth (Kallis, D'Alisa), transition initiatives (Del Río, Hobkins), collapse (Riechmann, Turiel), ecosocialism (Sempere), etc.
Ecofeminisms and queer ecology.
3. Environmental and technological risks
Concept of risk and its social and political implications. The social dimensions of risk.
Social perception of environmental and technological risks: Different perspectives (psychometric, cultural, institutional, etc.).
Environmental conflicts: Models for analyzing the structure of conflicts.
4. Social movements and environment
The origins of socio-environmental mobilization: Conservationism and worker environmentalism.
The increase (of the perception) of environmental risks and the new environmentalism (or political environmentalism).
Other social movements (naturism, etc.) and contemporary evolution (platforms, etc.). The new climate movements.
5. Environmental policies
Ecological modernization and sustainable development
Environmental governance and the precautionary principle
Decline and transitions towards sustainability
The ecosocial transition from the climate emergency
6. Transversal issues
Sociology of health
Urban and territorial sociology
Sociology of energy
Sociology of the agri-food system
Sociology of climate change
Sociology of waste
Methodology
The teaching staff will present an exposition of the main theoretical concepts and proposals in each study unit, as well as explaining specific cases that exemplify the different concepts studied.
It is intended to encourage debate/discussion on the topics covered.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Classroom problems | 12 | 0.48 | CM09, CM10, CM11, KM18, KM19, SM17, SM18, CM09 |
| Theoretical lessons | 38 | 1.52 | CM09, CM10, CM12, KM16, KM17, KM18, KM19, SM17, SM18, CM09 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Tutorials | 12 | 0.48 | CM11, CM12, SM17, SM18, CM11 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Problem solving | 23 | 0.92 | CM11, CM12, SM18, CM11 |
| Studying | 65 | 2.6 | CM09, CM10, KM16, KM17, KM18, KM19, SM17, CM09 |
Assessment
Evaluation
The evaluation will consist of:
a) THEORETICAL PART: 50% of the total grade. Written exam on the contents of the program.
b) CASE STUDY: 50% of the total grade. Group analysis of a socio-environmental conflict.
The student's grade will be the average of the two previous activities. To pass the subject, you must obtain a minimum grade of 5 in both evidences.
Recovery If the exam grade does not reach 5, the student has another opportunity to pass the subject through the make-up exam that will be held on the date set by the degree coordinator.
In this test you can recover 50% of the grade corresponding to the theory. If the subject is suspended for not having passed the case study, the teaching team may enable a recovery mechanism for this part of the grade.
Unique assessment Students who have accepted the single assessment modality will have to take a final test which will consist of a theory exam where they will have to develop a topic and answer a series of short questions.
Then you will have to hand in an assignment where you will have to solve a case study similar to those worked on in the Classroom Practice sessions.
The student's grade will be the weighted average of the two previous activities, where the theory exam will account for 50% of the grade and the case study 50%.
If the final grade does not reach 5, the student has another opportunity to pass the subject through theremedial exam that will be held on the date set by the degree coordinator.
In this test you can recover 50% of the grade corresponding to the theory. If the subject is suspended for not having passed the case study, the teaching team may enable a recovery mechanism for this part of the grade.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 50% | 0 | 0 | CM11, CM12, KM18 |
| Exam | 50% | 0 | 0 | CM09, CM10, KM16, KM17, KM19, SM17, SM18 |
Bibliography
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Software
No specific software required.