Political Economy of the Environment (802AF)
Political Economy of the Environment
Module 802AF
Module details for 2025/26.
30 credits
FHEQ Level 7 (Masters)
Module Outline
• Who wins and who loses from dominant development pathways?
• Why are the climate crisis and mass extinction environmental justice issues?
• How is ecological degradation linked to colonialism and capitalism?
• How can we address and reverse ecological breakdown?
In this module, we critically investigate a range of key environmental issues and challenges. Through the lens of political economy and political ecology, we explore diverse issues including energy and extractivism, food and agriculture, climate crisis, and water. You learn to critically investigate key concepts and ideas, such as financialisation of nature and green capitalism.
You will also explore alternative theoretical approaches and ‘ways forward’ – what are the solutions to the issues we have discussed? How can social change be achieved?
Module learning outcomes
To be able to apply concepts from the field of political economy to a range of environmental and developmental issues.
To be able to understand the politics of a range of environment and development issues covered in the course.
To be able to conduct independent research into the political economy of environmental issues through literature and web-based searches.
To be able to articulate and defend a position on many of the key issues covered in the course.
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 30.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Essay | T1 Week 7 | 100.00% |
| Essay (3500 words) | Semester 1 Assessment Week 2 Thu 16:00 | 70.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Semester | Seminar | 2 hours | 11111111111 |
| Autumn Semester | Lecture | 1 hour | 11111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Prof Anne-Meike Fechter
Assess convenor
/profiles/158737
Dr Anna Laing
Assess convenor
/profiles/397849
Prof Priya Deshingkar
Assess convenor
/profiles/709
Dr Andrea Brock
Assess convenor
/profiles/322495
Dr Aurora Ganz
Assess convenor, Convenor
/profiles/661311
Prof Grace Carswell
Assess convenor
/profiles/34117
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