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Lecturer(s)
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Frantál Bohumil, RNDr. Ph.D.
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Course content
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Course syllabus: - Environmental sociology as a discipline in the system of sciences, its origin, development and inspiration in traditional sociological and geographical theories. - Basic paradigms and theoretical approaches of environmental sociology: human ecology and the concept of competing functions of the environment, ecological modernization, risk society and reflexive modernization, realism versus social constructivism. - Social construction of environmental problems: environmental problems such as "claims", claim-makers and their rhetorical strategies, key processes in the construction of environmental problems. - Environmental discourse: changes and typologies of environmental discourse, from nature protection to ecosystem theory, environmentalism and socially oriented movements, politics, power and environmental injustice. - Media and communication of environmental problems: mass media and production of environmental news. - Environmentally significant behavior: the process of progressive rationalization, consumer behavior and McDonaldization of society, Disneyfication of space. - Environmental problems, science and environmental ethics: scientific uncertainty and the construction of environmental problems, the precautionary principle, the role of scientists in solving environmental problems, the regulatory science and the environment. - Discussion on selected current topics of environmental sociology: -- Energy and society (energy sustainability, resource curse theory and environmental injustice of energy, energy literacy and energy poverty). - Space recycling (the role of space and social actors in the process of brownfields regeneration) - Transformation of agriculture (new trends of post-productive business in rural areas, new identity of the farmer) - Local identity, perception of environmental risks and land use conflicts.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Lecture, Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook)
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Learning outcomes
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The aim of the course is to acquaint students with the historical development of environmental sociology as a discipline, describe its relationship to human geography and other social sciences and present a variety of theories and concepts applied to the relationship between the physical environment, social organization and social behavior. We will critically discuss the current issues of the interactions between human society and nature and the role of science, politics, social and environmental movements and the mass media in this system.
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Prerequisites
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unspecified
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Assessment methods and criteria
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unspecified
Active participation in seminars. Elaboration and presentation of seminar work on a selected topic. Written exam.
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Recommended literature
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Bell, M.M. (2008), An Invitation to Environmental Sociology, Pine Forge Press.
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Hannigan, J. (2006). Environmental sociology.. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
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