Anthropology 570, Fall 2003
Environmental Anthropology

Syllabus

Course Description

Current issues in the study of human-environment interaction from a variety of cross-cultural perspectives. Topics to be covered include: Ecological adaptation and maladaptation; ethnoecology and indigenous knowledge; anthropogenic environmental change; political ecology of “development;” interrelations of cultural and biological diversity; conflicts over indigenous land use and property rights; environmental justice, sustainability, and equity. The seminar is open to graduate students in any field or discipline with a strong interest in the multidisciplinary study of interrelations of “nature” and “culture.”

Course Requirements

Each student will:

1. Participate in the “E-post” discussion list (10 points).
2. Prepare an annotated bibliography on a selected research literature in EA (60 points).
3. Write three short thought pieces – 1000 word essays on selected course readings (10 points each for 30 points).
4. Attend and participate in seminar meetings (penalties for excessive absence)

Assignment Notes

1.      E-post discussion list. The course web site has a link to the E-post discussion list. Over the course of the quarter, each student is expected to submit at least five question/commentary posts related to course readings or in-class discussions. This is our virtual community, and you may also use this electronic bulletin board to make announcements on events of interest to the class or to share links to resources and news.

2.      Annotated bibliography. The annotated bibliography must focus on a research literature in EA that serves the student’s own thematic or area interests. The bibliography must include at least 25 annotations. It must also include an introductory expository essay (5 to 10 pages in length) in which the student begins to address a critique of the literature by identifying gaps in research, empirical inadequacies, unresolved theoretical controversies, or policy implications.

3.      Short thought pieces involving 1000-word essays on selected course readings. Think of these as opportunities to criticize the readings and develop some new ideas.

4.      Attendance and participation. I will penalize students for excessive absence or tardiness. Participation is also crucial to the success of a seminar format.

Required Readings

1.      Berkes, Fikret and Carl Folke, eds. 2000. Linking social and ecological systems: Management practices and social mechanisms for building resilience. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press.

2.      Forsyth, Tim 2003. Critical political ecology: The politics of environmental science. London: Routledge.

3.      Hunn, Eugene S. and James Selam. 1991. Nch'I-Wana, the Big River: Mid-Columbia Indians and their land. Seattle: Univ. of Washington Press.

4.      Nazarea, Virginia D. ed. 1999. Ethnoecology: Situated knowledge/located lives. Tucson: Univ. of Arizona Press.

5.      Peña, Devon G. 1998. Chicano culture, ecology, politics: Subversive kin. Tucson: Univ. of Arizona Press.

6.      Sivaramakrishnan, K. 1999. Modern forests: Statemaking and environmental change in colonial eastern India. Stanford: Stanford Univ. Press.

7.      Townsend, Patricia K. 2000. Environmental anthropology: From pigs to politics. Prospect heights: Waveland Press.

Please note: Additional readings will be made available on-line or distributed to class. Please consult the Course Calendar on the Schedule page for the entire listing of required and recommended readings.

Click here to visit the UW Libraries Electronic Course Reserves for Anthropology 570.