Political Sociology of Environmental Crises

Course goals

The course aims are:

1. Understand basic concepts in political sociology
2. Identify political sociology concepts in current debates on environmental crisis and policies
3. Use political sociology concepts to offer new perspectives on environmental crisis and policies

Content

How can we counteract global warming, biodiversity loss, and other environmental threats? While many good answers are offered to these questions, the barriers to the implementation of solutions seem often insurmountable. A sociological perspective is needed to understand why that is the case. The addressing of global environmental crises is a cross-disciplinary affair that requires the involvement of many different parties, representing the interests of various regions, countries, organizations, communities and individuals. How can these interest groups be brought together, reach consensus and be brought to act on their pledges? Although this course will not provide a definite answer to this question, it will equip students with a better understanding of the politics behind environmental crises. In particular, the course will show how (political) sociology can add valuable insights to the studying of environmental crises and policies.

The lectures will focus on topics in political sociology such as social dilemmas, social order, power, political institutions, political behavior, the “state”, globalization, social movements and super-national organizations. The tutorials will deepen these topics by discussing their roles in current debates on environmental crises and policies.