GLCb2020 Environmental Threats and Security

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Miriam Matejova, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Adéla Souralová, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Adéla Souralová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! BSSb1198 Environmental Threats
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 14 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course examines key environmental threats, including environmental disasters and climatic changes, as well as various aspects of environmental security. The aim is for students to gain an understanding of the theory, history, and politics of significant environmental problems as they relate to national and international security.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to: • Identify and evaluate key energy and environmental factors in security planning. • Analyze and communicate contemporary environmental problems and threats. • Recognize and assess critical vulnerabilities to security.
Syllabus
  • Environmental problems and why it is difficult to solve them
  • Environmental security: history and concepts
  • Do environmental changes cause conflict?
  • Environmental security in the age of climate change
  • Catastrophic future(s)?
  • Contemporary environmental threats
  • The future of environmental security
  • Group presentations
Literature
    required literature
  • • Dauvergne, Peter. 2008. The Shadows of Consumption. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
  • • Deudney, Daniel. 1991. “Environment and Security: Muddled Thinking.” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Vol. 47, No. 3, pp. 22-28.
  • • Hough, Peter. 2004. Understanding Global Security, 2nd ed. London and New York: Routledge.
  • • Kelman, Ilan. 2022. Disaster by Choice. Oxford University Press.
  • • Homer-Dixon, Thomas. 1994. “Environmental Scarcities and Violent Conflict: Evidence from Cases.” International Security, Vol. 19, no.1, pp. 5-40.
Teaching methods
lectures, discussion, group presentation
Assessment methods
group presentation, final exam
Language of instruction
English
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/GLCb2020