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Environmental Sociology

Code: 101129 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2500262 Sociology OB 3

Contact

Name:
Jose Luis Espluga Trenc
Email:
joseplluis.espluga@uab.cat

Teachers

Guillermo Sala Lorda

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

None


Objectives and Contextualisation

The objective of the course is double. On the one hand, the aim is to understand the relationships between nature and society through different social sciences theoretical contributions, particularly from the already long tradition of environmental sociology. On the other hand, it is intended to reflect on environmental risks, their social and political implications and the main theoretical and practical debates related to its social perception, management and governance. In both objectives, emphasis will be placed on the issue of power and inequalities, on the role of scientific knowledge in the definition and management of environmental problems, and in the different types of social and political responses implemented to address these issues.


Competences

  • Analysing the problems arising from the implementation of public policies and conflict situations by recognising the complexity of the social phenomena and political decisions affecting democracy, human rights, social justice and sustainable development.
  • Applying the concepts and approaches of the sociological theory, specially the explanations of social inequalities between classes, between genders and between ethnic groups, to the implementation of public policies and to the resolution of conflict situations.
  • Assessing the contributions of sociological approaches to the study of culture, education, interaction between society and environment, social policy, and work.
  • Demonstrating a comprehension of the analysis of social phenomena presented in English, as well as observing their strengths and weaknesses.
  • Demonstrating a comprehension of the approaches of the sociological theory in its different aspects, interpretations and historical context.
  • Describing social phenomena in a theoretically relevant way, bearing in mind the complexity of the involved factors, its causes and its effects.
  • Developing self-learning strategies.
  • Effectively communicating the basic analysis of social phenomena in an elementary level of English.
  • Respecting the diversity and plurality of ideas, people and situations.
  • Searching for documentary sources starting from concepts.
  • Take account of social, economic and environmental impacts when operating within one's own area of knowledge.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Applying the same social and environmental analysis to another country.
  2. Comparing the theoretical approaches concerning interaction between society and the environment.
  3. Defining the interaction society-environment from these approaches.
  4. Defining the sociological concepts that interpret the interaction between society and the environment.
  5. Demonstrating a comprehension of the analysis of social phenomena presented in English, as well as observing their strengths and weaknesses.
  6. Developing self-learning strategies.
  7. Differentiating the concepts adopted by actors involved in these policies and conflicts (productivist, environmentalist, sustainabilist, etc.).
  8. Distinguishing sociological concepts, as well as the methods and techniques of social investigation commonly used by environmental sociology.
  9. Effectively communicating the basic analysis of social phenomena in an elementary level of English.
  10. Identifying the social phenomena by which the society and the environment interact.
  11. Relating the approaches of the sociological theory in its different aspects with the global ecological dimension.
  12. Respecting the diversity and plurality of ideas, people and situations.
  13. Searching for documentary sources starting from concepts.
  14. Take account of social, economic and environmental impacts when operating within one's own area of knowledge.

Content

Contents:

1. Relationships nature / society

The Society-Nature duality: an anthropological perspective

The economic system and natural 'resources'

The dialogue between the Social Sciences and the Natural Sciences

Human activity and environmental vectors: water, energy, waste, food, biodiversity, territory and urban planning, air quality and climate change (these vectors will also appear in the rest of the 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); Model HEP-NEP (Catton & Dunlap), etc.

Explanations from the political economy: Wheel of production model (Schnaiberg); Second contradiction of capitalism (O'Connor); Popular Ecology (Martínez-Alier); Risk Society (Beck), Ecological Modernization (Mol and Spargaaren), etc.

Explanations from the debate on Ecological Modernization (Mol and Spargaaren) and 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.).

Socio-environmental conflicts: Models of analysis of the structure of conflicts.

4. Social movements and the environment:

The origins of socio-environmental mobilization: Conservationism and environmentalism.

The increase (of perception) of environmental risks and the new ecologism (or political ecologism).

Other social movements (naturism, etc.) and contemporary evolution (platforms, etc.)

5. Environmental policies:

Ecological modernization and sustainable development

Environmental governance and the precautionary principle

Degrowth and transitions towards sustainability

Ecosocial transitions and climate emergency

6. Transversal issues

Sociology of health

Urban sociology

Sociology of energy

Sociology of agrifood system


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Seminars 23 0.92 1, 2, 4, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11
Theoretical classes 15 0.6 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11
Type: Supervised      
Tutorials 15 0.6 4, 5
Type: Autonomous      
Self-organized student's work 90 3.6 1, 2, 4, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

The teaching methodology includes the following activities:

1- Master classes

2- Seminars: Reflections and analysis of Conferences and talks

3- Realization of group work

4- Preparation of the written test. Analysis and study of readings and materials.

5- Written test (exam).

At the beginning of the course, the specific instructions and the calendar to be followed will be detailed.

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.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Exam 50% 5 0.2 2, 4, 7, 8, 11
Seminars 20% 1 0.04 1, 13, 9, 5, 6, 10, 11
Team work 30% 1 0.04 14, 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12

The assessment of the course consists of:
a) Attendance at two seminars, which will require a subsequent individual written reflection (20% of the final mark, 10% each one).
b) A team work to analyze an environmental conflict (30% of the final mark). The team work will have 2 deliveries throughout the course.
c) An exam (50% of the final mark).
 
Criteria:

  • Both the exam and the team work must be approved separately.
  • The mark results from the average of all partial notes (seminars, exam and team work), in accordance with the indicated proportionality.
  • Those who, for any justified reason, can not carry out these activities, may agree to other methods of individual assessment (provided they do so before the date indicated by the teachers at the beginning of the course).
  • In the event that someone is not present in the exam or does not do the group work, it will be considered 'Not Applicable'.
  • The recovery will consist of an examination of the failed parts. To participate in the recovery exam one's must have been previously evaluated of the exam and team work, at least. No minimum mark is required to be able to do the recovery exam.
  • The review of the final qualification will take place on a date established for the purpose, in which all evidence delivered during the course can be reviewed

 Unique/single assessment:
In this subject there is the possibility of requesting a single assessment. Students who decide to take this option must provide the following evidence on the official day of the subject exam:

  • - Seminars: deliver 2 reflections on 2 of the conferences scheduled during the course, with the same length and characteristics as those required of the rest of the students. In the event that the student cannot attend the conferences or talks, he/she can ask the teaching staff for substitute virtual materialto make the respective comments or reflections. The weight of this evidence is 20% of the final grade.
  • - Collective work: Submit a work equivalent to that proposed by the subject's collective work. Ideally, it should be group work. If this is not possible, the student should contact the teachers to receive precise instructions on how to do it individually. The weight of this evidence is 30% of the final grade.
  • - Exam: students taking a single assessment must take the subject exam on the date set in the official calendar.

Recovery: The same recovery system as for the continuous assessment will be applied.

The review of the final qualification follows the same procedure as for the continuous assessment.


Bibliography

Basics:

Alabart, Anna (2003) “Sociologia urbana”. A: S. Giner (coord.), Teoría Sociológica Moderna (págs. 458-488). Barcelona: Ariel.

Beck, Ulrich (2002) La sociedad del riesgo global. Madrid: Siglo XXI.

Commoner, Barry (1992) En paz con el planeta. Barcelona: Crítica.

Espluga, Josep & Caballero, Javier. (2005) Introducción a la prevención de riesgos laborales. Barcelona: Ariel.

Espluga, Josep; Ruscheinsky, Aloisio; Prades, Ana (2018) “El concepto de riesgo y su aplicación al análisis de conflictos socioambientales” (p. 69-90). In: A. Vallejos-Romero; J. Valencia Hernández & A. Boso (eds.) Riesgos, Gobernanza y Conflictos Socioambientales. Temuco: Ediciones Universidad de La Frontera.

Garcia, Ernest (2004), Medio Ambiente y Sociedad. Madrid: Alianza.

Garcia, Ernest (2021) Ecología e igualdad. València: Tirant.

Herrero, Yayo (2023) Toma de tierra. Madrid: Caniche.

Lemkow, Louis. & Espluga, Josep (2017) Sociología Ambiental. Barcelona: Icària.

Mies, María & Vandana Shiva (2016) Ecofemismo. Teoría, crítica y perspectivas. Barcelona: Icària.

Prades, Ana; Espluga, Josep; Horlick-Jones, Tom (2015) “Riesgos tecnológicos, conflictos sociales y políticas ambientales. Del estudio de las percepciones a la implicación pública”. Papers, Revista de Sociologia, núm. 100 (4): 395-423. http://papers.uab.cat/article/view/v100-n4-prades-espluga-horlick-jones

Riechmann, Jorge & Fernández Buey, Francisco (1994) Redes que dan libertad. Introducción a los nuevos movimientos sociales. Barcelona: Paidós.

Schnaiberg, Allan (1998) "Politizando la rueda de producción: Los programas de reciclaje de residuos sólidos en Estados Unidos”. Revista Internacional de Sociología, 19-20: 181-222. [Versió en anglès: “Politicizing the treadmill of production: reshaping social outcomes of ‘efficient’ recycling”. Working paper, Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL USA].

 

Complementary:

Aledo, A.; Domínguez, J.A. (2001) Sociología ambiental. Granada: Grupo Editorial Universitario.

Baigorri, A. (ed.) (2012) Transiciones ambientales. Ensayos de sociologia ambiental. Badajoz: ARSociologica & SOCMAyS.

Barley, N. (1998) El antropólogo inocente. Barcelona: Anagrama.

Beck, U. (1992) Risk Society; Towards a New Modernity, London, Sage. [La Sociedad del riesgo. Barcelona: Paidós, 1998]

Beck, U. (1999) World Risk Society. Cambridge. Polity Press. [La Sociedad del riesgo global. Madrid: Siglo XXI, 2002]

Beck, U. (2009) The World at Risk, Cambridge, Polity Press.

Benach, J. (2020) La salud es política. Barcelona: Icària.

Brundtland, G.H. (1989) Nuestro Futuro Común, Madrid, Alianza Editorial (Comisión Mundial Del Medio Ambiente Y Del Desarrollo).

Carson, R. (2002) Silent Spring, New York, Mariner Books (Houghton).

Commoner, B. (1992) En paz con el planeta. Barcelona: Crítica.

D’Alisa, G.; Demaria, F.; Kallis,G. (eds.) (2015) Decreixement. Vocabulari per a una nova era. Barcelona: Icària.

Del Río, J. (2015) Guia del movimiento de Transición. Madrid: La Catarata.

Diamond, J. (1998) Armas, gérmenes y acero. Barcelona: Random House Mondadori.

Diaz-Maurin, F. (2013) Decreixementsostenible i Eficiència Energètica. Documents de Treball Medi Ambient, Vol. 7 “Eficiència Energètica”, Diputació de Barcelona, Servei de Medi Ambient.

Dobson, A. (1997) Pensamiento político verde. Barcelona: Paidós.

Douglas, M. (1996). La aceptabilidad del riesgo según las ciencias sociales. Barcelona: Paidós. [1985].

Douglas, M.; Wildavsky, A. (1982). Risk and Culture. Berkeley, Los Angeles, London:University of California Press.

Dunlap, R.E.; Buttel, F.H.; Dickens, P.; Gijswitj, A. (2002) Sociological Theory and the Environment. Classical Foundations, Contemporary Insights. Lanhan: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Espluga, J. (2004) “Conflictes socioambientals i estudi de la percepció social del risc”. Papers. Revista de Sociologia., núm. 72, p. 145-162.

Espluga, J. (2012) “Riscos ambientals, plans d’emergència i desigualtats de gènere”. A: M. Freixanet (coord.) Sostenibilitats. Polítiques públiques des del feminisme i l’ecologisme. Barcelona: Institut de Ciències Polítiques i Socials. Pàgs. 189-226.

Espluga, J. (2013) “Riscos ambientals i moviments socials a Catalunya”. A: Societat Catalana 2012. Barcelona: Associació Catalana de Sociologia – Institut d’Estudis Catalans. Pàgs. 135-156. http://publicacions.iec.cat/repository/pdf/00000190%255C00000045.pdf

Espluga Trenc, J. (coord.) (2019) El cambio climático y sus metàforas. Barcelona: Icària.

Espluga, J.; Di Masso, M.; López, D. (2019) “Agroecologia i polítiques per la sobirania alimentària: fórmules per afrontar la crisi energètica, ambiental i econòmica”. A: R. Gomà & J. Subirats (coords.) Canvi d’època i de polítiques públiques a Catalunya. Barcelona: Galàxia Guttenberg. P. 144-159.

Espluga, J.; Farré, J.; Gonzalo, J. Prades, A. (2014) “Factores que inhiben la movilización social: el caso del área petroquímica de Tarragona”. Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas, núm. 146: 191-216. http://www.reis.cis.es/REIS/jsp/REIS.jsp?opcion=articulo&ktitulo=2435&autor=JOSEP+ESPLUGA+TRENC%2C+JORDI+FARR%C9+COMA%2C+JAN+GONZALO+IGLESIAS%2C+ANA+PRADES+L%D3PEZ

Espluga, J.; Farré, J.; Gonzalo, J.; Horlick-Jones, T.; Prades, A.; Oltra, J.; Navajas, J. (2009) “Do the people exposed to a technological risk always want more information about it? Some observations on cases of rejection“. In: S. Martorell, C. Guedes & J. Barnett (eds.) Safety, Reliability and Risk Analysis, London: CRC Press – Taylor & Francis, p. 1301-1308.

Espluga, J.; Prades, A.; Gamero, N.; Solà, R. (2009) “El papel de la confianza en los conflictos socioambientales“. Política y Sociedad, Vol. 46, núm. 1 y 2: 255-273. http://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/POSO/article/view/POSO0909130255A

European Environment Agency (2013) Late Lessons from Early Warnings: Science, Precaution and Innovation. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

Fischhoff, B.; Slovic, P.; Lichtenstein, S.; Read,S.; Coombs, B. (1978). “How Safe is Safe Enough: A Psychometric Study of Attitudes towards Technological Risk and Benefits”. Policy Sciences, núm. 8: 127-152.

Foster, J.B. (2012) “The Planetary Rift and the New Human Exemptionalism: A Political-Economic Critique of Ecological Modernization Theory”. Organization Environment, 25: 211-237.

Garcia, E. (2004), Medio Ambiente y Sociedad. Madrid: Alianza.

 

Garcia, E. (2021) Ecología e igualdad. València: Tirant.

Giddens, Anthony (1993): Las consecuencias de la modernidad, Madrid: Alianza.

Giddens, Anthony (2000): Un mundo desbocado, Madrid: Taurus.

Harari, Y.N. (2014) Sàpiens. Una breu història de la humanitat. Barcelona: Edicions 62.

Harari, Y.N. (2018) 21 lliçons per al segle XXI, Barcelona: Edicions 62.

Horlick-Jones, T.; Prades, A. (2009). “On interpretative risk perception research: Some reflections on its origins; its nature; and its possible applications in risk communication practice”. Health, Risk & Society, 11 (5): 409-430.

Irwin, A. (2001) Sociology and the Environment. Oxford. Polity Press.

Jackson, T. (2011) Prosperidad sin crecimiento. Economía para un planeta finito. Barcelona: Icària.

Jackson, T. (2022). Postcreixement. La vida després del capitalisme. Barcelona: Arcàdia.

Kallis, G. (2021) Límits. Ecologia i llibertat. Barcelona: Arcàdia.

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Lemkow, L. (1984). La protesta antinuclear. Madrid: Mezquita.

Lemkow, L.; Espluga Trenc, J. (2017), Sociología Ambiental. Barcelona: Icària.

López Cerezo, J.A.; Luján, J.L. (2000) Ciencia y Política del Riesgo. Madrid: Alianza.

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Software

Not necessary.


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(SEM) Seminars 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 51 Catalan second semester afternoon
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 51 Catalan second semester afternoon