Problemas Sociais Contemporâneos (not translated)
Code
722081099
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Sociologia
Credits
10
Teacher in charge
Iva Miranda Pires
Weekly hours
3 letivas + 1 tutorial
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
At the end of this curricular unit, the student will to demonstrate:
a) Knowledge and understanding of contemporary social problems that have interaction with the environment; these problems stem from the way societies and the environment evolve, interact and seek to harmonize.
b) Ability to situate these issues within the context of modernity and of the risk society
c) Capacity for critical and authonomous reflection on these problems as well as sensitivity to the readings´ diversity.
d) skills to apply this knowledge in the writing, presentation and discussion of their research work.
Prerequisites
N.A
Subject matter
The syllabus is organized into thematic sessions. During the academic year 2013/14 these will be the topics of discussion:
1. Introduction: The Impact of Human Actions in Ecosystems
2. Ecosystems and Natural Resources
3. Ecological Problems as Social Problems
4. Climate change: processes and impacts on society, economy and environment
5. Human Vulnerability to Environmental Disaster in different socio-economic contexts
6. Environmental Displaced, Migrants and Refugees
7. Food safety and food waste
Bibliography
Beck, U (2006). Living in the world risk society. Economy and Society Vol35(3):329-345
Costanza, R. (et al) (1997). The value of the worlds ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature, vol 387:253-260
Moran, E (2010). People and Nature, An Introduction to Human Ecological Relations. Oxford: Blackwell Pub
Ostrom, E (2010). A Multi-Scale Approach to Coping with Climate Change and Other Collective Action Problems. Solutions. Vol 1(2):27-36
Redclift, M; Sage, C (1998). Global Environment Change and Global Inequality. Int.l Sociology, Vol13(4):449-516
Rockström, J; Steffen, W (2009). Planetary Boundaries: Exploring the Safe Operating Space for Humanity.
Ecology and Society 14(2): 32
YEARLY, S (2004). Ecological Problems, in G. Ritzer (ed.) Handbook of Social Problems, Comparative International Perspective, London, Sage Pub, pp. 87-100
Teaching method
Classes are centered on the theoretical exposition of the program, based on articles available through the moodle platform and on short videos and other news material which allows students to access a wide range of analytical perspectives, both academic and non-academic. Based on these materials, the student must develop his/her own critical opinion on the subject and discuss it in a group dynamic context. This critical reflection will be further developed in the preparation of his/her essay to be presented to the group in one of the final classes.
Evaluation method