Sociology and Criminology

Capitalism, Growth, and Ecological Crisis

Module code: L4117B
Level 6
30 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Seminar
Assessment modes: Essay

For many decades now, scholars and activists have been pointing to the contradictions between the insatiable demands of a capitalist economy and the delicate balance and finite limits of ecological systems. This module explores these contradictions and the ways they are inextricably bound up with questions of cultural value, social justice, and political practice.

We'll explore:

• various ideas about the relationship between society and nature, ranging from different types of "green growth" to the debated concept of "degrowth"
• these approaches critically, focusing on how theories about ecological problems influence political beliefs and goals—and how those beliefs, in turn, shape theories 
• what these ideas mean for our daily lives, personal values, and future plans.

Module learning outcomes

• Critically understand how the historical development of modern capitalism is linked to ecological crises
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how ecological modes of thought challenge orthodox attitudes to economic growth
• Critically evaluate the assumptions, concepts, and data upon which proposals for ‘green growth’ and/or ‘degrowth’ are constructed
• Assimilate and evaluate empirical material from recent academic research which is of relevance to the theoretical and political frameworks covered on the module
• Critically compare different theoretical and practical approaches to eco-politics
• Demonstrate a critical appreciation of some of the key intersections between struggles for ecological and sociological justice