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SOC165: Introduction to Environmental Sociology
Mgr. Benjamin Vail, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Autumn 2010
Class time: Thursdays 10.00-11.30
Classroom: 24
Credits: 6
Office hours: Tuesdays 14.00-16.00 in room 3.59
Course Description
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. Each week, students are expected to attend the lecture, read the
assigned literature, and watch required multimedia resources. 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.
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 information about the course and the weekly schedule
with links to course materials. Please contact the instructor with any questions or concerns about
using the IS.
Evaluation
Success in this course depends on reading and watching all assigned materials, which serve as the
basis for the two exams that determine your grade for the semester. Students are expected to attend
every lecture, and information provided in lectures may also be tested in the exams. You will
receive a final letter grade (A-F) for the semester based on the following components:
Final grade components Final grade scale
40% – Mid-term exam
60% – Final exam
A = 90 – 100%
B = 80 – 90%
C = 70 – 80%
D = 60 – 70%
E = 50 – 60%
F = <50%
E-mail Policy
Students may contact the instructor at any time by e-mail with questions about the course. I will
strive to reply to your questions within 48 hours of receipt of your e-mail. I usually do not read or
respond to e-mail on weekends or holidays.
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
Week Date Lecture Topic Required Reading Required Video
1 Sept 23
Introduction to
Environmental
Sociology
Syllabus
Bell Chapter 1: Environmental Problems and Society
McCarthy and King: Environmental Problems Require Social
Solutions
State of the Planet
o Part 1: Is There a Crisis?
o Part 2: Why is There a Crisis?
o Part 3: The Future of Life
2 Sept 30
Consumption,
Materialism, and
Modern Society
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)
Mathis Wackernagel: The Ecological Footprint
Barry Schwartz: The Paradox of Choice
ABC News: Pacific Garbage Dump
Charles Moore: Sailing the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
3 Oct 7
The Treadmill of
Production
Bell: Money and Machines (chapter 3)
Buttel: The Treadmill of Production
Annie Leonard: The Story of Stuff
4 Oct 14 Sustainability
Bell: Population and Development (chapter 4)
Prugh and Assadourian: What is Sustainability, Anyway?
Interview with Julian Simon
Vandana Shiva: Defending Biodiversity
Monsanto Company: Global Benefits of Plant Biotechnology
Bonnie Bucqueroux: Curing America’s Eating Disorder
Interview with Michael Pollan
5 Oct 21
Health, Risk, and
Environmental Justice
Bell: Body and Health (chapter 5)
Bell: Risk (chapter 9)
Vyvyan Howard: The Chemical Industry and Toxicology
Vyvyan Howard: Rising Cancer Rates (parts 1 & 2)
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
Greenpeace: The Mexican Electronics Industry
6 Oct 28
* NO LECTURE *
Ideology of
Environmental
Domination
Bell: The Ideology of Environmental Domination (chapter 6)
The 11th
Hour
Why Should Christians Care about the Environment?
BBC Interview with Richard Cizik
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7 Nov 4
* NO LECTURE *
Marx and the
Environment
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
8 Nov 11
* NO LECTURE *
Mid-term Exam
9 Nov 18
Ideology of
Environmental
Concern
Bell: The Ideology of Environmental Concern (chapter 7)
Buttel: Ecological Modernization as Social Theory
Michael Braungart: “Cradle to Cradle” Design
Remembering Rachel Carson
Satish Kumar: Deep Ecology
10 Nov 25
The Social
Construction of
Nature
Bell: The Human Nature of Nature (chapter 8)
11 Dec 2
Sociological
Perspectives on
Global Climate
Change
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
The Independent: Scientist publishes 'escape route' from global
warming
BBC: The Truth About Climate Change
o Part 1: Are We Changing Planet Earth?
o Part 2: Can We Save Planet Earth?
Interview with Bjørn Lomborg about climate change
David Keith on geoengineering
12 Dec 9
Peak Oil and Modern
Society
Owen et al.: World Oil Reserves
ExxonMobil: Peak Oil?
Kunstler: The Long Emergency
Der Speigel: Peak Oil and the German Government
The Guardian: US Military and Peak Oil & UK Government and
Peak Oil
The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the
American Dream
Power of Community
Colin Campbell: The Future of Oil
Richard Heinberg: Peak Oil (parts 1 & 2)
13 Dec 16
Environmental
Problems and
Solutions
Bell: Organizing the Ecological Society (chapter 10)
Kennedy: Crimes Against Nature
York, Rosa and Dietz: The Environmental Consequences of
Modernity
A Convenient Truth
Bill McKibben: Proactive Localism
Reuters: Community Gardens Blossom