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Social Sciences and Sustainability

MESS16, 7.5 credits

The Social Sciences and Sustainability course discusses different theories of modern society and relates them to different approaches to sustainability and environmental problems.

The course introduces social science approaches to sustainability in three parts: the origin, theory and practice for studying society in the close relation to nature.

The first section provides an introduction to the ideas that link and define the material conditions of our current societies, such as the use of natural resources, the evolution of property relations, and notions of progress.

The second part highlights different theories of society and relates them to environmental problems. This part of the course focuses on the tensions and synergies that arise in the interactions between different analytical concepts and categories such as individual/society, agency/structure and anthropocentrism/ecocentrism in relation to social change.

The third part provides basic understanding of current sustainability solutions. This is done from different perspectives, and practical examples are taken from various geographical origins including the Global South. The aim is to stimulate critical discussion and more in-depth reflection on existing solutions from diverse societal positions.

Literature list

Literature list, established 2024-05-31 PDF (395 kB)

 

Great course, I had given up on political theory during my Bachelor's degree, but now I finally understand Gramsci, Habermas etc.!

 

Student, Batch 24