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SOC165: Introduction to Environmental Sociology
E-learning course
Mgr. Benjamin Vail, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Spring 2009
Credits: 6
Office hours: Mondays 14.00-15.00 in room 3.59
E-mail: vail@fss.muni.cz
Course description and requirements
This course introduces many of the major schools of thought and topics of research in the field of environmental
sociology, and presents a historical overview of the development of environmental sociological theory and research over
time. The course consists of weekly thematic modules that typically include textbook and other readings, multimedia
lectures, and graded activities. By the end of the semester, students will have an in-depth understanding of the
development of environmental sociology as an academic discipline, gain knowledge about historical and contemporary
environmental issues, and be able to critically analyze the material and ideal relationships between modern society and
its biophysical environment.
Students should read the assigned chapters in the course textbook and use the IS e-learning system to read the
supplemental literature, which is available electronically in PDF and/or Word format. Because this course is taught via
the Internet using e-learning methods, rather than as a lecture course in a physical classroom, students are expected to be
comfortable using computer hardware and software, and to be comfortable doing reading, research, and writing
independently. Students must have regular access to a computer and high-speed Internet connection, and be proficient in
the use of e-mail and multimedia programs such as Real Player, Windows Media Player, and Youtube. Students need an
Internet browser to connect to the online course content. Lectures are provided using Microsoft Office PowerPoint.
Students must be proficient in English, and this course is an opportunity for you to practice English. Students are
encouraged to ask the instructor if they have any questions about the language or cultural references in the literature.
Educational materials posted on the IS or sent to students are for class use only, not for distribution.
Using the MU Information System
Class resources are available to students through Masaryk University's online Information System (IS). Under the
course title "SOC165: Introduction to Environmental Sociology" you will find an interactive syllabus which contains
important general information about the course and the weekly schedule with links to all the required course materials including
the lecture files, required reading, quizzes, and all other information. Please contact the instructor with any
questions or concerns about using the IS.
Evaluation
Each week's study will typically involve required readings, viewing of lecture materials and required videos, and taking
the weekly quiz. The weekly quiz, to be taken via the IS, may include questions about the lecture and any required
reading or videos for that week.
Students will receive a final letter grade (A-F) for the semester based on the following components:
Final grade components Final grade scale
30% ­ Weekly quizzes
35% ­ Mid-term exam
35% ­ Final exam
A = 90 ­ 100%
B = 80 ­ 90%
C = 70 ­ 80%
D = 60 ­ 70%
E = 50 ­ 60%
F = <50%
E-mail policy
Communicating with the instructor by e-mail is an important part of this course, since there is no classroom contact.
Students may contact the instructor at any time by e-mail with questions about the course. I will reply to your questions
within 48 hours of receipt of your e-mail.
Academic honesty
The Faculty of Social Studies at MU expects students to know the study rules and maintain academic honesty by
refraining from plagiarism and from cheating during exams. Plagiarism means that one presents other peoples' ideas as
one's own and does not credit the author. Plagiarism is one of the most serious breaches of ethical standards in the
academic environment, for it denies the mission of the university and the meaning of studying. From a legal perspective,
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plagiarism is the stealing of intellectual property. The official FSS policy on academic honesty is available in the
course's interactive syllabus in IS in English and Czech. Academic dishonesty is not tolerated under any circumstances
at FSS. The minimum penalty for academic dishonesty is expulsion from the course, a grade of F for the semester, and
referral to the Faculty disciplinary committee.
Weekly schedule
February 16-22 Introduction to Environmental Sociology Week 1
Lecture files:
* Welcome to SOC165 ­ Explanation of syllabus, grading policy, etc.
* Introduction to Environmental Sociology
Required reading:
* Syllabus
* Bell Chapter 1: Environmental problems and society
* Giddens: Sociology and the environment
* McCarthy and King: Environmental problems require social solutions
Activities:
* Practice quiz
* Chapter 1 quiz
February 23March
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Consumption, Materialism, and Modern Society Week 2
Lecture files:
* Consumption, materialism, and modern society
Required reading:
* Bell: Consumption and materialism (Chapter 2)
* Slater: Themes from the sociology of consumption
* Union of Concerned Scientists: The consumer's guide to effective environmental
choices (chapter 1)
Required video:
* Mathis Wackernagel: The ecological footprint
* Barry Schwartz: The paradox of choice
Activities:
* Chapter 2 quiz
March 2-8 The Treadmill of Production Week 3
Lecture files:
* ToP theory
Required reading:
* Bell: Money and machines (Chapter 3)
* Buttel: The treadmill of production
Required video:
* Annie Leonard: The Story of Stuff
Activities:
* Chapter 3 quiz
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March 9-15 Sustainability Week 4
Lecture files:
* Sustainability
Required reading:
* Bell: Population and development (Chapter 4)
* Prugh and Assadourian: What is sustainability, anyway?
* Interview with Julian Simon
Required video:
* Vandana Shiva: Defending biodiversity
* Patrick Holden: Sustainable agriculture
* Monsanto Company: Global benefits of plant biotechnology (youtube)
* Bonnie Bucqueroux: Curing America's eating disorder (youtube)
Activities:
* Chapter 4 quiz
March 16-22 Health, Environmental Justice, and Risk Week 5
Lecture files:
* Health, environmental justice, and risk
Required reading:
* Bell: Body and health (Chapter 5)
* Bell: Risk (Chapter 9)
Required video:
* The Future of Food
* Vyvyan Howard: The chemical industry and toxicology
* Vyvyan Howard: Rising cancer rates (parts 1 & 2)
Activities:
* Chapters 5 & 9 quiz
March 23-29 Films About Environmental Justice Week 6
Required reading:
* Selva: Toxic shock
* Bullard: Can Americans trust the government to protect them?
* Slade: Electronic waste a ticking time bomb
Required videos:
* The digital dump: Exporting high-tech re-use and abuse to Africa
* Exporting harm: The high-tech trashing of Asia
* "Mountaintop removal" coal mining in the US Appalachian Mountains (youtube)
* Greenpeace: The Mexican electronics industry
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March 30-April 5 Ideology of Environmental Domination Week 7
Lecture files:
* Ideology of environmental domination
Required reading:
* Bell: The ideology of environmental domination (Chapter 6)
Required video:
* The 11th
Hour
* A Rocha: Why should Christians care for creation?
Activities:
* Chapter 6 quiz
April 6-12 Reading Week: Marx and the Environment Week 8
Required reading:
* Dickens: Marx and the environment
* Murphy: Environmental accountability under state socialism
* Burkett: On some common misconceptions about nature and Marx
* O'Connor: Capitalism, nature, socialism
Activities:
* Marx quiz
April 13-19 Ideology of Environmental Concern Week 9
Lecture files:
* Ideology of environmental concern
Required reading:
* Bell: The ideology of environmental concern (Chapter 7)
* Buttel: Ecological modernization as social theory
Required video:
* Michael Braungart: "Cradle to cradle" design
* Remembering Rachel Carson
Activities:
* Chapter 7 quiz
April Mid-Term Exam
The date, time and room for the Mid-Term Exam will be announced later.
April 20-26 The Social Construction of Nature Week 10
Lecture file:
* The social construction of nature
Required reading:
* Bell: The human nature of nature (Chapter 8)
Activities:
* Chapter 8 quiz
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April 27- May 3 Sociological Perspectives on Global Climate Change Week 11
Required reading:
* Gore: Ten simple things you can do to help stop global warming
* Monbiot: Save the planet in 10 steps
* Cohen: Some inconvenient truths about the politics of environmental crisis
* Morris: What Al Gore hasn't told you about global warming
* Kelly: The hidden opportunity in global warming
* Šimůnek and Růžička: Vaclav Klaus on climate change
* Jackson: Insurance industry feels the heat of global warming
Required video:
* An inconvenient truth
* Interview with Bjorn Lomborg about climate change
May 4-10 Peak Oil and Modern Society Week 12
Required reading:
* ExxonMobil: Peak oil?
* Luttwak: The truth about global oil supply
* Kunstler: The long emergency
* Worldwatch special section on peak oil
Required video:
* The end of suburbia: Oil depletion and the collapse of the American dream
* Colin Campbell: The future of oil
* Richard Heinberg: Peak oil (parts 1 & 2)
May 11-17 Environmental Problems and Solutions Week 13
Lecture file:
* Addressing environmental problems as social problems
Required reading:
* Bell: Organizing the ecological society (Chapter 10)
* Kennedy: Crimes against nature
* York, Rosa and Dietz: The environmental consequences of modernity
Required video:
* A Convenient Truth
* Bill McKibben: Proactive localism
* ACGA: Community gardens
Activities:
* Chapter 10 quiz
Final Exam
The date, time and room for the Final Exam will be announced later.
Literature
No. of
pages
Bell, M.M. 2004. An introduction to Environmental Sociology (2nd
edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine
Forge Press.
325
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Brower, M. and Leon, W. "How Many Simple Things Do People Need to Do to Save the Planet?"
Chapter 1 in The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices Practical Advice from the Union
of Concerned Scientists. Three Rivers Press.
~20
Bullard, R. Can Americans trust the government to protect them? Lessons from the World Trade Center
ground zero and the aftermath of Katrina. CommonDreams.org, September 11, 2006.
~4
Burkett, Paul. 1996. "On some common misconceptions about nature and Marx's critique of political
economy." Capitalism-Nature-Socialism. Volume 7, pp. 57-80.
24
Buttel, F.H. 2004. "The Treadmill of Production: An Appreciation, Assessment, and Agenda for
Research," Organization & Environment 17(3):323-336.
15
Cohen, M. Some inconvenient truths about the politics of environmental crisis. Counterpunch.org,
February 2, 2007.
~8
Dickens, Peter. 1997. "Beyond sociology: Marxism and the environment." Pages 179-194 in M. Redclift
and G. Woodgate (editors). International Handbook of Environmental Sociology. London: Edward Elgar.
15
ExxonMobil. 2007. "Peak Oil? Contrary to the theory, oil production shows no sign of a peak." 1
Giddens, A. 2006. "The Environment and Risk," pp. 936-969 in Sociology. 5th
ed. Cambridge: Polity
Press.
30
Gore, A. "Ten simple things you can do to help stop global warming." DVD cover for "An Inconvenient
Truth."
1
Jackson, D. Z. 2006. Insurance industry feels the heat of global warming. The Boston Globe newspaper,
March 15.
~2
Kelly, M. 2006. The hidden opportunity in global warming, Alternet.org. December 21. ~4
Kennedy, R.F., Jr. 2003. "Crimes Against Nature," Rolling Stone Magazine, December 11. ~20
Kunstler, J.H. 2005. "The long emergency," Rolling Stone magazine, March 24. ~8
Luttwak, E. N. 2005. The truth about global oil supply. The First Post, August 11. ~4
McCarthy, D. and L. King. 2005. pp.xi-xxx in Environmental sociology: From analysis to action. New
York: Rowman & Littlefield.
20
Monbiot, G. 2006. Save the planet in 10 steps. The Guardian newspaper (UK), October 30. ~4
Morris, D. 2006. What Al Gore hasn't told you about global warming. Alternet.org, January 9. ~6
Murphy, Raymond. 1994. "Environmental accountability under state socialism" in Rationality and
Nature. Westview Press, pp. 149-157.
8
O'Connor, J. (1988) Capitalism, nature, socialism: A theoretical introduction. Capitalism,
Nature, Socialism 1:11-38.
28
Prugh, Thomas and Erik Assadourian. 2003. "What is sustainability, anyway?" World Watch Magazine,
pp. 10-21.
12
Selva, M. 2006.Toxic shock: How Western rubbish is destroying Africa. The Independent newspaper
(UK), September 21.
~4
Simon, J. and Buckley, W.F. 1982. "Answer to Malthus? Julian Simon Interviewed by William Buckley."
Population and Development Review 8(1):205-218.
14
Šimůnek, P. and Růžička, 2007. M. Klaus: Radar yes, when ... Hospodářské noviny. February 14. ~4
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Slade, G. 2006. Electronic waste a ticking time bomb. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper, April 13. ~2
Slater, D. 1998. "Themes from the sociology of consumption," Paper presented at the Consumption,
Environment, and the Social Sciences Seminar, 6-7 July.
~12
Worldwatch special section on peak oil. Pages 9-24 in WorldWatch Magazine, January/February 2006. 16
Total number of assigned pages: ~643