Contemporary Environmental Sociology - Einzelansicht

Environmental Sociology explores various relations, processes, and reciprocal interactions between human society and their natural and built environments. The primary purpose of this master level course will be to identify cultural and societal factors underlying environmental change and to explore the role sociology can play in understanding them. Although the course is oriented towards contemporary social theories (ranging from Practice Theory, World Systems, Sustainability Theories, Risk and Ignorance, Resilience thinking, or Actor-Network-Theory) empirical fields to be discussed in class include, to name but a few, green consumption, environmental risk assessments, environmental justice issues, chemical regulations, human-animal-relations, industrial contamination, or renewable energy systems.

Introductory Books:

Boström, Magnus and Debra J. Davidson, eds. (2018): Environment and Society: Concepts and Challenges. London: Palgrave Macmillan (available as e-book in THULB).

Hannigan, John (2023): Environmental Sociology, revised 4th Edition. London: Routledge.

Overdevest, Christine, ed. (2024): Encyclopedia of Environmental Sociology. Cheltenham, UK: Elgar.

Good English language skills are useful but not essential for the participation in the seminar. If you feel your command of the English language is not well developed this should not hinder you to participate, quite the contrary: The seminar is also about learning and practicing to discuss in English.