This course aims to provide a holistic picture of sustainability, examining its political, social, and economic aspects from a geographical and sociological perspective. This will enable students to develop a critical understanding of a number of issues related to sustainability, and to the main challenges facing human in times of socioecological transition.
At the end of the course, students will have acquired competence and understanding of several theoretical, methodological and conceptual approaches to the critical study of sustainability in the context of the Anthropocene.
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The course is developed in a series of interactive lectures aimed at promoting dialogue among participants and between participants and lecturer. The course includes face-to-face lectures, also with audio-visual stimuli, case studies, and work in small groups where students will have ample opportunities to work independently and delve into some of the topics explored in class through the development of small group projects.
For students opting for progressive assessment in itinere, it is expected that: 60 percent of the assessment will be through written examination; 40 percent through project work to be carried out in small groups, the results of which will have to be shared in the classroom through presentation. The project work, assigned during the course, will consist of case studies and thematic literature reviews to be carried out by applying the conceptual categories introduced in class and critical thinking. The detailed modalities will be explained during the course, also depending on the number of participants. This activity will be completed before the end of the course.
For students not attending the course, the assessment will consist of a written examination only (with additional questions and time).
The written examination covers both the module of the course and will consist of questions to test the understanding and knowledge of the texts. In addition, complex questions will be proposed to understand the student's ability to critically analyse situations using the conceptual tools learned during the course. The evaluation criteria adopted are:
(a) the relevance of the answer to the question.
(b) the ability to synthesize
(c) the property of language.
For excellence, the ability to make connections, the use of critical and strategic thinking will also be considered.
The exam mark will be expressed on thirty points.
The module is based on critical social theory and will therefore initially provide students with an overview of the main theoretical and epistemological approaches to the study of sustainability. To do this, the module will first position current debates—both social and political—within the broader context of the Anthropocene, highlighting recent milestones in the field, starting with the work of the Brundtland Commission in 1987 and explaining the path that led to the adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030. The module will consider issues related to unequal power relations, unequal development, questions of justice, gender, generations, and collective versus individual responsibility.
The course is divided into two modules. The first module will address environmental challenges, covering the following topics from a global perspective:
- Theoretical and ontological debates on sustainability and sustainable development;
- Understanding the Anthropocene and the relationship between humans and the environment;
- The current environmental crisis and challenges to sustainability;
- The link between consumption and socio-ecological degradation and debates on CSR.
- Social and economic obstacles to the realization of a low-carbon economy.
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