ANTH 469B/ENVIR 450 Fall 2003
Sustainability: From Seattle to Johannesburg

Syllabus

Course Description

Sustainable development is one of the most significant and controversial concepts of the 20th century. The course examines concepts and practices of sustainability from the Brundtland Commission (1984-87) to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002). Various “schools” or philosophies of sustainability are examined including conventional models of top-down environmental managerialism, third-world critiques, and a wide range of alternatives including feminist and autonomist perspectives. The course will also address The Earth Charter, ecological footprint analysis, environmental justice and anti-globalization movements, and ethnoecology to assess their implications for an understanding of the future of sustainability.

Course Requirements

Each student will:

1. Prepare three 1000-word ‘thought pieces’ on course readings (20 points ea. = 60 points). Due dates are 6 Oct, 15 Oct, and 26 Nov. Consult assignment notes in course calendar marked by .

2. Prepare ecological footprint modeling exercise or case study materials (30 points). Due 15 Dec.

3. Participate in the “E-post” discussion list (10 points).

4. Attend and participate in seminar sessions (penalties for excessive absence).

Course Textbooks

1.      Agyeman, J. et al. 2003. Just sustainabilities: Development in an unequal world. London: Earthscan.


2.      Elliot, J. 2001. An introduction to sustainable development. London: Routledge.


3.      Low, N. 1999. Global ethics and environment. London: Routledge.


4.      Miller, P. and L. Westra. 2002. Just ecological integrity: The ethics of maintaining planetary life. London: Rowman and Littlefield.


5.      Wackernagel, M. and W. Rees. 1996. Our ecological footprint: Reducing human impact on the Earth. Philadelphia: New Society.


Additional readings will be distributed in class.