FSS:ENSb1287 Economic Alternatives - Course Information

ENSb1287 Economic Alternatives in Theory and Practice

Extent and Intensity

2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).

Teacher(s)

Thomas Smith, Bsc. (Hons), MA, PhD. (lecturer)
RNDr. Naděžda Vlašín Johanisová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Bc. Filip Siblík (assistant)

Guaranteed by

RNDr. Naděžda Vlašín Johanisová, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Bc. Petra Burišková
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies

Timetable

Thu 18:00–19:40 P24

Prerequisites (in Czech)

! ENS287 Economic Alternatives &&!NOW( ENS287 Economic Alternatives )

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

• Environmental Studies (programme FSS, B-ENV) (5)

Course objectives

The aims of the course are:
a/to familiarize students with literature putting economic alternatives - heterodox economic inititiatives - in a wider context (Polanyi, Illich,Claeys, Feierabend, Douthwaite,Gibson-Graham, etc.)
b/to enable a deeper reflection of the issue of economic alternatives in the widest sense, i.e. including historical examples from Europe (co-operatives, mutuals) and traditional economies (commons, traditional forms of redistribution)
c/to enable active and critical thinking and discussions about currrent streams in the field of economic alternatives and about practical case studies, and reflection of different conceptualizations of economic alternatives.

Learning outcomes

After having taken this course, the student will be able to: -identify and describe the main currents of thought regarding economic alternatives
-identify and analyze connections between new, historical,and traditional forms of economic alternatives
-explain the concepts: co-operative, social solidarity economy, community economies, and apply their principles in entrepreneurial practice
-describe the structure and functioning of concrete economic alternatives in the Czech Republic and abroad
-give reasons for the importance of public support of economic alternatives from the perspectives of environmental sustainability and social justice
- differentiate between various degrees of radicality of heterodox economic initiatives based on their ontological and ethical assumptions

Syllabus

• Definition and examples of economic alternatives (heterodox economic initiatives)
• Theoretical anchoring of economic alternatives
• The struggle for the commons, regulation of the commons and historical utopian communities in Britain
• Historical examples in Central Europe: co-operatives, mutuals, community currencies and credit networks
• Traditional heterodox economic initiatives n global South countries (Vikalp Sangam movements in India, Nayakrishi Andolon in Bangladesh)
• Co-operative principles and their social, economic and environmental implications
• Social solidarity economy vs. social enterprise - different degrees of radicality
• Community and diverse economies (J.K.Gibson-Graham)
• Practical examples of economic alternatives and their detailed analysis - Czech Republic
• Practical examples of economic alternatives and their detailed analysis - Catalonia
• Revew of the main topics and discussion of links between HEI and environmental goals
• This syllabus framework will change slightly over the years. Students receive a detaield updated syllabus yearly.

Literature

• Kothari, A., K.J.Joy, in print: Alternative Futures: India Unshackled
• Coates, Chris, 2001: Utopia Britannica: British Utopian Experiments 1325-1945. Diggers and Dreamers Publications
• Mill, J,S., 1889: Principles of political economy. Oxford World´s Classics, Oxford University Press
• Gibson-Graham,J.K, J. Cameron, S. Healey, 2013: Take back the economy. University of Minnesota Press
• JOHANISOVÁ, Naďa. Kde peníze jsou služebníkem, nikoliv pánem : výpravy za ekonomikou přátelskou přírodě a člověku. Vydání první. Volary: Stehlík, 2008, 125 stran. ISBN 9788086913056. info
• FEIERABEND, Ladislav Karel. Zemědělské družstevnictví : v Československu do roku 1952. Edited by Naďa Johanisová. Vyd. 1. Volary: Stehlík, 2007, 161 s. ISBN 9788086913032. info
• POLANYI, Karl. Velká transformace. Translated by Jiří Svoboda. 1. vyd. Brno: CDK (Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury), 2006, 299 s. ISBN 8073250969. info
• DOUTHWAITE, R. J. Short circuit : strengthening local economies for security in an unstable world. Dublin: Lilliput Press, 1996, xiv, 386. ISBN 1874675600. info
• ILLICH, Ivan. Tools for conviviality. London: Calder and Boyars, 1973, xiii, 110. ISBN 0714509736. info

Teaching methods

Lectures supported by projection, group discussions and activities, readings and reflection of readings in class

Assessment methods

For succesful completion of the course, the student must attend a minimum of 70% of sessions and obtain a minimal number of points. Points will be given for evaluation of readings before sessions. In addition to attendance and commentary on readings, the third condition will be successful attendance at a colloquium - discussion in threes with the lecturer. Before attending the colloqium, the student will be expected to have read a book from a given list. The evaluaton will be specified for each year in a yearly syllabus.

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

Study Materials
The course is taught annually.

Teacher's information

The course is aimed primarily at undergraduate environmental studies students who have taken the course Critical Economics and Nature (formerly called Ecological economics). However, it is open to other students as well. It will be taught if at least 6 students enroll in the course.

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2019, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2019/ENSb1287