This course is design for SEEP students interested in learning about non-orthodox economic as well as political approaches to environmental problems.

The focus is on the major theoretical approaches that have developed over time in ecological economics and political ecology, the reasons why they have developed and some of the issues surrounding them. This will introduce a range of concepts and ideas and involve class discussions which critically analyse their content and meaning. Connections will be drawn to the underlying philosophy behind ideas and their ontological and epistemological foundations.

Readings are selected from the first two volumes of the four volume collection on ecological economics, the newly published Handbook on Ecological Economics, and related readings.

Spash, C.L., 2009. Ecological Economics: Critical Concepts in the Environment, 4 Volumes, Routledge Major Work. Routledge, London.

Spash, C. L. (Ed.), 2017. Routledge Handbook of Ecological Economics: Nature and Society. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.

• To understand key issues confronting the economic and political analysis of the ecological question
• To cover some key theoretical issues and topic areas in the environment-economy and political ecology debates
• To introduce social ecological economics as a heterodox economic approach
• To understand processes of social, ecological and economic transformation and the challenges confronting them

There is a basic pass/fail course attendance requirement. That is, you cannot miss more than 4 hrs of class (equivalent of two class sessions) over the entire semester. This allowance is for serious unforeseen circumstances. Movie sessions have a separate attendance requirement.

• There will be 10 classes of 2 hours each and two film nights.
• There are 8 reading sessions, which will involve lectures, student participation and group work. 
• For some lectures there will also be a lecture cast to watch beforehand.
• Each session will have a short break halfway.
• There will be an extended last session for student led debates.

The overall grade for this course consists of the following four parts:

• Final essay (40%)
• Student led debate (20%)
• In-class participation (15%)
• Four reading assignments (25%)