Political Ecology - Land Use and Natural Resources in a Local to Global Perspective
Land use, natural resource use, provisioning and sustainable development must be analyzed from several perspectives; where the social, cultural economic, and ecological are increasingly being included.
Equally central, but less often acknowledged, are issues of power and political systems, and the processes in time and space that affect them. Is the market economy a stimulus for local agricultural development? Does it promote a sustainable use of natural resources? Or is it a threat to local provisioning and security? How is income from agriculture distributed within society, e.g. between men and women, and between urban and rural areas? Who owns the rights and/or the power to define what is a sustainable versus a non-sustainable use of natural resources? Researchers in developed countries? The UN? A local political elite? Local communities?
The course covers the use of land and other natural resources at local to global scales, from both a theoretical and a practical perspective. The theoretical block presents the emergence and development of political ecology within research, and includes comparisons with other scientific perspective on land use and natural resource management (e.g. geographic landscape analysis and resilience theory).
Another key element of the course is case studies, where examples of local communities' use of land and water resources are analyzed both from a physical and human geographical perspective. The course provides skills highly relevant in a dynamic and growing multi-disciplinary research focus, where political ecology is discussed in relation to parallel scientific perspectives. The course provides knowledge about natural resource management in relation to a problematization of key issues pertaining to environmental processes and provisioning.
The course moreover provides insights into environmental, historical and social conditions of importance for sustainable natural resource use at different scale levels. The course finally gives exercise in applying political-ecological theories and methods for the analysis of land use issues.
These and many other topical and future key issues are dealt with within political ecology.
Information for admitted students autumn 2024
Congratulations! You have been admitted at Stockholm University and we hope that you will enjoy your studies with us.
In order to ensure that your studies begin as smoothly as possible we have compiled a short checklist for the beginning of the semester.
Follow the instructions on whether you have to reply to your offer or not.
universityadmissions.se
Checklist for admitted students
-
Activate your university account
The first step in being able to register and gain access to all the university's IT services.
-
Register at your department
Registration can be done in different ways. Read the instructions from your department below.
-
Read all the information on this page
Here you will find what you need to know before your course or programme starts.
IMPORTANT
Your seat may be withdrawn if you do not register according to the instructions provided by your department.
Information from the department - courses
Information for the autumn semester 2024.
Admission and reply deadline
If you have applied for single courses via universityadmission.se and are admitted or placed as reserve, don’t forget to answer through universtyadmissions.se (My pages) to keep your place or reserve place. You have to accept your place, otherwise you will lose your place.
Late application
From 15th of July it may be possible to make a late application for some of our courses via universityadmissions.se. If the course is not open it means we can´t accept more students.
Registration and Welcome letter
Web-registration is made via Ladok for Students. What applies for a certain course is found in the welcome letter you will receive before the courses starts. Information will be sent to the e-mail address you used in the application via universityadmission.se. Be sure to check your email (also look in the spam filter).
Contact
Contact information can be found at the bottom of the course page or the program page. During holidays, it may take some time before you receive answers from us at the study administration. If you have urgent questions about admission or anything else, you can contact the Student Services and Infocenter at Stockholm University.
Welcome activities
Stockholm University organises a series of welcome activities that stretch over a few weeks at the beginning of each semester. The programme is voluntary (attendance is optional) and includes Arrival Service at the airport and an Orientation Day, see more details about these events below.
Your department may also organise activities for welcoming international students. More information will be provided by your specific department.
Find your way on campus
Stockholm University's main campus is in the Frescati area, north of the city centre. While most of our departments and offices are located here, there are also campus areas in other parts of the city.
Read more
For new international students
Equally central, but less often acknowledged, are issues of power and political systems, and the processes in time and space that affect them. Is the market economy a stimulus for local agricultural development? Does it promote a sustainable use of natural resources? Or is it a threat to local provisioning and security? How is income from agriculture distributed within society, e.g. between men and women, and between urban and rural areas? Who owns the rights and/or the power to define what is a sustainable versus a non-sustainable use of natural resources? Researchers in developed countries? The UN? A local political elite? Local communities?
The course covers the use of land and other natural resources at local to global scales, from both a theoretical and a practical perspective. The theoretical block presents the emergence and development of political ecology within research, and includes comparisons with other scientific perspective on land use and natural resource management (e.g. geographic landscape analysis and resilience theory).
Another key element of the course is case studies, where examples of local communities' use of land and water resources are analyzed both from a physical and human geographical perspective. The course provides skills highly relevant in a dynamic and growing multi-disciplinary research focus, where political ecology is discussed in relation to parallel scientific perspectives. The course provides knowledge about natural resource management in relation to a problematization of key issues pertaining to environmental processes and provisioning.
The course moreover provides insights into environmental, historical and social conditions of importance for sustainable natural resource use at different scale levels. The course finally gives exercise in applying political-ecological theories and methods for the analysis of land use issues.
These and many other topical and future key issues are dealt with within political ecology.
-
Course structure
Modules
- Theory and Methods, 10 credits
- Project, 5 credits
Teaching format
The education consists of lectures, seminars, exercises and project work.
Assessment
For details see syllabus.
Examiner
Annika Dahlberg and Andrew Byerley
-
Schedule
The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course. -
Course literature
Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.
-
Course reports
-
Contact
Registration is normally done at the beginning of each semester.
Course responsible
Annika Dahlberg
E-mail: annika.dahlberg@natgeo.su.seAndrew Byerley
E-mail: andrew.byerley@humangeo.su.seStudy counsellor, student office and other contacts
