12785 - Sociology of the Environment

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to recognize the basic elements of this discipline, know the history of sociological debate about the concept of environment, individuate and manage the characteristics of environmental analysis, and appropriately use the most important concepts of this discipline.

Course contents

The first part of this course will be focused on a general introduction about the sociology of environment. First of all, the environmental analysis will be introduced: it consists on all the cognitive elements (variables, indicators, etc.) which make possible a knowledge of territory, in order to capture its more and more rapid changes. Recent empirical studies  provide a problematic picture of environment, showing that it is time to adjust the research tools to the real processes of a rapidly changing society. As regards the Chicago School approach, environment was considered in its own specificity rather than something undifferentiated; that School also represented a clear option for qualitative techniques, with participant observation as a prominent tool. This module will also be focused on socio-environmental analysis of city, with attention to suburbanization and urban sprawl as crucial topics to understand the notion of environment in sociology.
The second part will be focused on the presentation of an empirical study and some best practices that emerged in addressing the environmental crisis. With regard to the first topic, a study on the Transition Towns network will be introduced as an example to achieve not only a low carbon economy but also a low carbon society; a particular attention will be given to the concept of resilience in relation to climate and environmental change. Some case studies of transition towns in Emilia-Romagna  will also be presented. With regard to the second topic, we will present a study implemented in the Appennino BOlognese area, with attention to critical elements as well as the potential ones for a sustainable local development.

Readings/Bibliography

For the part one:

M. Castrignanò, A. Landi (a cura di), La città e le sfide ambientali globali, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2016.

 

For the part two:

A. Landi, Una società low-carbon in costruzione. Elementi di teoria e pratiche della transizione sostenibile, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2015.

G. Manella (a cura di), Per una rinascita delle aree interne. Una ricerca nell'Appennino Bolognese, Angeli, Milano, 2017.

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars.

Assessment methods

A final oral exam about all the books in the recommended reading will be done, in order to check the critical and methodological skills acquired by students. A particular attention will be given to students' skills to orient themselves within the sources and bibliographical material in order to find the useful information to illustrate the proper cultural aspects of this discipline. The achievement of an organic vision of the course topics together with a critical use, a mastery of expression and a specific language will be assessed as excellent. A more mechanical and mnemonic knowledge, non-articulated synthesis and analysis skills, and correct but not always appropriate language will be assessed as good; training gaps and/or inappropriate language - although with a minimum knowledge of the exam contents - will be assessed as sufficient. Training gaps, inappropriate language, lack of orientation within reference material will be assessed as insufficient.

Office hours

See the website of Giovanni Pieretti