ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY OF WORK

The course is part of the Interdisciplinary Activities (Environmental History track) [C] of the Master's degree Programme in Environmental Humanities. It aims at exploring the intrinsic link between nature and labour, the ways in which human labour has transformed and been transformed by the environment, and the environmental discourses and policies of the labour movement. More widely, it aims to open up a conversation between Environmental and Labour studies.

Knowledge and Understanding
- knowledge of the main issues and methods of Labour History and Environmental History
- knowledge of the impact of the Industrial Revolution over environment and human health
- understanding the role of industrial labour in changing the relationship between human beings and natural environment
- understanding the fallouts over workers and communities of the environmental degradation caused by industry

Ability to apply Knowledge and Understanding
- ability to identify a common ground between Labour History and Environmental History
- ability to recognize the complexity of the relation between industrial production, employment and the protection of the environment
- ability to critically evaluate the causes of environmental conflicts provoked by industrial activities

Communication Skills
- ability to participate in group discussion adopting a suitable terminology and respecting the opinions of others
- ability to draw on personal experiences to enrich the group discussion

Learning Skills
- ability to take part in interactive and collaborative activities on the Moodle platform
- ability to increase the bibliography through personal research

The course has no specific pre-requirements other than a basic knowledge of the Industrial Revolution.

Labour Heritages in/and the Environment

The course will explore various dimensions (philosophical, political, historical) of the interplay between human labour and the environment, bringing together Labour History and Environmental History. The central theme of the course will be how human labour leaves its mark on the environment: the landscape as a workscape and the toxic legacies of harmful production, but also the struggles for health and the environment, political ecology and movements for environmental justice. Both national and international contexts will be considered.

The reference list will be published at a later date.

Students are expected to write an original paper (3000/5000 words) critically developing the topics of the course. The widening of methodological perspectives is warmly encouraged. The paper has to be submitted to the instructor at least 10 days before the exam.
The final exam will consist of a discussion starting from the written essay and later expanding to cover other aspects of students’ preparation, in order to have a full assessment of the knowledge and abilities they have learned through the course.

orale

Il/la docente ha il dovere di vigilare affinché siano rispettate le regole di autenticità e originalità delle prove d'esame. Di conseguenza, nei casi in cui vi sia il sospetto di un comportamento irregolare, l'esame può prevedere un ulteriore approfondimento, contestuale alla prova d'esame, che potrà essere realizzato anche in modalità differente rispetto alle modalità sopra riportate.

The final mark will be determined by taking the following aspects into account:

1. Coherence with course topics (precondition)
2. Ability to argue: persuasive discussion of examples, awareness of different points of view, ability to go beyond description and include interpretation
3. Originality: ability to add a personal, critical viewpoint to the existing literature, to envision new research horizons
4. Writing: clear structure and layout of the paper, appropriate handling of terms and concepts
5. Bibliography and referencing (relevance, accuracy, extent)

Lectures and group discussion; forums and other collaborative activities in the Moodle platform. Class participation is warmly encouraged.