Handbook home
The Political Ecology of Development (DEVT90003)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2017
Overview
| Fees | Look up fees |
|---|
The subject will help students understand human-environment relationships and key development issues using a political ecology perspective, with cases from developing and developed countries. Political ecologists use a variety of approaches to understand complex human-environment problems, and these are applied to concrete situations. We critically analyze a number of development initiatives that are reconstituting human-environment relationships and, in some cases, promoting new forms of ‘environmental governance’. The range of topics covered does change, and some indicative ones are; supporting rural livelihoods; water management; conservation policy; urban environmental governance; the environmental outcomes of corporate misdeeds; global land grabbing; and environmental movements. Through a seminar presentation, reading, and participation, students will learn how different institutions, and the politics surrounding them, impose constraints upon, and present opportunities for, the promotion of sustainable and equitable development.
Intended learning outcomes
- comprehend the political ecology approach and be familiar with the rich literature of political ecology;
- understand the driving forces of human and environmental resource pressures, at different scales;
- demonstrate acquired knowledge in seminar contributions and through an essay;
Generic skills
N/A
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission to a postgraduate coursework program or fourth year honours in development studies, environment, urban planning, gender and development, resource management, public policy, international politics, geography or anthropology, or permission of the subject coordinator.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
This course requires all students to actively and safely participate in field excursions and laboratory activities. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Subject Coordinator and Student Equity and Disability Support.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
An essay of 4000 words 80% (due at the end semester), an oral presentation equivalent to 1000 words 10% (during the semester), seminar participation throughout the semester 10%.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
Not available in 2017
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Subject readings will be available on the LMS system
Recommended texts and other resources
Robbins, P. 2012. Political Ecology: a critical introduction. Blackwell. See also the 'Journal of Political Ecology' online, http://jpe.library.arizona.edu
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 3 November 2022