ELECTIVE
PSOM 11321 ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY 4 credits
Course Outcomes: (COs)
Understand the reciprocal relationships between environment and society.
Gain knowledge about the different ideologies and perspectives of environmental sociology.
Understand the relationship between gender and environment.
Gain awareness about personal responsibilities and roles in environmental problems.
Analyse the interplay between environment, development, capitalism and social justice.
Understand Environmental Sociology from one’s own experience
MODULE 1: Introduction to Environmental Sociology
1.1. Nature and Society- Human being and Nature, Environment in Culture and Religion
1.2. Ecological Concern and Economic Thought - Patterns of Industrialisation, Inequitable Growth, Capitalism and Implications on Environment - Eco-crisis, Human Progress versus
Ecological Collapse, Environmental problems from the Local to the Global
1.3. Social Theory in the Environmental Debate - Non Western Views of the Environment - The
Judeo-Christian Legacy – Pre-nineteenth century social readings
1.4. The Enlightenment, Environment and Social Theory - 19th-21st century social theory -Development of Environmental Sociology
MODULE 2: Major Environmental Ideologies
2.1.Environmental Visions - Thoreau, Rachel Carson, Gandhiji 2.2.Anthropocentrism, Anthropocene and Deep Ecology 2.3.Social Ecology and Environmental Sociology: Debates 2.4.Green dilemmas: Consumerism and Environmentalism
MODULE 3: Gender and Environment
3.1. Evolution of Masculinist Forestry – forest policies and management 3.2. Ecology and culture – Gendered hierarchies
3.3. Gender and Environment Debate – Ecofeminism
3.4. Impact of environmental degradation – a gender perspective
MODULE 4: Politics of Environment
4.1.Struggles over Resources - Globalization and Third World countries - Environmental policies - Hazardous Industries, Mining and Agriculture – Impact on Indigenous Communities
4.2.Human Wildlife Conflict - Anthropogenic Stress on Ecosystem
4.3.Environmental Movements - Development Induced Conflicts, Environmental Injustice – case studies
4.4.Sustainable Development and its Critique
- Teacher: Dr. Shyju M K