PS 319U Politics of the Environment

The human relationship with nature is a source of much political conflict and has been since the emergence of the state. This course explores the short- and long-term origins of current conflicts, the emergence of political movements around environmental issues, alternative world views regarding nature, and the distinctiveness of politics around these issues. Specific conflicts will be examined, including the relationship between human attempts to control nature and human hierarchies, population, water, and conservation of biodiversity.