POLITICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

The course is among the interdisciplinary ones of the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Philosophy, International and Economic Studies.
It aims to unravel the connections between politics and the environment through a discussion of contemporary capitalism, with a particular focus on everyday consumption practices in the Minority World/Global North. It discusses the politics-capitalism-nature nexus in two main ways: firstly, by exploring the contradictions inherent in consumption; second, by focusing on the tension between the visibility and invisibility of nature in general, and non-human animals in particular, in our consumption practices and in the contemporary world. By emphasising the consequences of overconsumption on people, health and the environment, the course invites us to rethink consumption as political and not as an everyday practice that we tend to take for granted.

1. Knowledge and Understanding:

1.1 Learn the key concepts underlying critical approaches to consumption and the exploration of nature as a source of economic activity.
1.2 Understand that politics consists of practices that people engage in daily life (whether consciously or unconsciously).
1.3 Think of consumption as a series of political practices rather than an obvious, taken-for-granted activity.

2. Ability to Apply Knowledge and Understanding:

2.1 Critically reflect on consumption practices and their consequences on people and nature.
2.2 Learn to think of the world as more-than-human and imagine a more-than-human social and environmental justice.
2.3 Explore the possibilities of using creativity to communicate sustainability in a positive way.

3. Judgment Skills:

3.1 Assess the social and environmental sustainability of both mainstream and alternative production and consumption models.
3.2 Navigate sustainability debates and policies promoted by institutions and companies.

being able to read, write and understand English

The main contents of the course cover:
Power and politics
Capitalism and its impact on people and the environment
Nature
Consumption and its contradictions and consequences
The (in)visibility of nature: introducing the field of human-animal studies
The commodification of nature and animals: between visibility and invisibility
Commodities as bundles of socio-technical and environmental relations
The politics of consumption: following commodities

The instructor will upload on Moodle relevant papers and chapters, which may include:
Cook, I and Crang, P. “Consumption and its geographies” in Daniels, P., Bradshaw, M., Shaw, D., Sisaway, J., & Hall, T. (2016). An introduction to human geography, Pearson
Cook, I., Evans, J., Griffiths, H., Mayblin, L., Payne, B., & Roberts, D. (2007). Made in…? Appreciating the everyday geographies of connected lives.
Angus, T., Cook, I., & Evans, J. (2001). A manifesto for cyborg pedagogy?. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 10(2), 195-201.
Colombino, A., & Giaccaria, P. (2021). The Posthuman imperative: From the question of the animal to the questions of the animals. The philosophy of geography, 191-210.
Colombino and Bruckner (2023) “Hidden in plain sight: How (and why) to attend to the animal in human animal relations” in Colombino, A. Bruckner, H. K. (eds.) “Methods in Human-Animal Studies: Engaging with animals through the social sciences”, Routledge.
Healy, S. (2020). Alternative economies. International encyclopedia of human geography, 111-117.

For all students, the exam consists of a written test comprising 18 multiple-choice questions worth 1 point each, 3 open-ended questions worth 4 points each, and 1 open-ended question for honours. The questions are based on all the texts uploaded on Moodle by the instructor during the course and on the discussions held in class.

written

Total number of multiple-choice questions: 18. Value of each correct multiple-choice answer: 1 point. Total score from multiple-choice questions: 18 points
Total number of open-ended questions: 3. Value of each open-ended question: 4 points. Total score from open-ended questions: 12 points
Total maximum score (multiple-choice + open-ended questions): 30 points
Requirement to be evaluated for honours: The student must achieve the maximum score of 30 points.
Honours: If the student scores 30 points, the open-ended question for honours will be graded. If the answer demonstrates excellence, honours will be awarded.

Lecture-based teaching and class discussion on topics and texts proposed by the instructor.

The lecturer will upload to Moodle all the materials on which the lectures are based and which are necessary for preparing the exam. Students are advised to check the course's Moodle page during and after the lectures.
NB: Registration for the exam is managed by the electronic system of the University and not by the lecturer. ONLY the students registered in the list provided by the electronic system can take the exam.
Ca’ Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development