Foundations of Political Ecology

This course is an introduction to the field of political ecology (PE), an interdisciplinary social science that examines how political, economic, and social forces shape environmental issues and access to resources. Scholars in the field emphasize the role of power, colonial legacies, and uneven development in environmental degradation, and situate environmental issues within historical and structural contexts. Feminist political ecology (FPE) expands this lens by integrating gender, identity, and embodiment into environmental analysis, highlighting how gendered power relations intersect with race, class, and place to shape environmental knowledge, labor, and access to resources. Together, political ecology and the sub-field of feminist political ecology push for more inclusive, holistic, and transformative ecological understandings and politics. This seminar-style course will equip students with foundational knowledge in PE and FPE, drawing on foundational works, short lectures, class discussions, and reflections to help students situate their own scholarship within a political ecology lens. Classes largely will be discussion-based, with occasional lectures, small group work, and in-class exercises. Students are expected to complete all readings and associated assignments in advance of each class. At the end of this course, students should have a sound understanding of the field of political ecology, including the ability to describe the field's theories and methods, major frameworks and constructs, and key scholars. Throughout the course, students should expect to compare and contrast the field of political ecology with other fields in the social sciences, as well the intersections between them, and describe its strengths and shortcomings.