Political Ecologies of Development unit (KGA308)

Hobart, Online

Introduction

Political ecology is a diverse area of study, professional practice and activism that integrates the pursuit of justice, sustainability and development. Political ecology builds intellectual and emotional clarity by unearthing root causes of environmental problems and guiding transformative actions to address them. Analysing nature and society as one system and employing case studies from around the world, you will: investigate environmental concerns through a focus on unequal social power; examine the interplay of political and economic processes in relation to food, water and energy resources; unpack global power relations between ‘high consumption' (minority world) and 'low consumption' (majority world) societies; and chart actionable paths towards sustainable, equitable and decent futures. The skills of inquiry and knowledge you develop are applicable to careers in government, the private sector and civil society at the intersection of development and environment concerns at scales from the local to the global.

Summary

Unit name	Political Ecologies of Development
Unit code	KGA308
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Sciences and Engineering School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences
Discipline	Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences
Coordinator	Associate Professor Aidan Davison
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Advanced

Availability

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 2	4/7/2027	26/7/2027	29/8/2027	23/10/2027

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2027 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2027 will be available from the 1st October 2026. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• apply political ecology analysis of social power in environmental systems to develop integrated, evidence-based knowledge about justice, sustainability and development;
• investigate the political ecology of energy, food and water resources in diverse places and across scales to identify root problems and transformative paths towards just and sustainable forms of development;
• communicate political ecology insights through critical, reflective, dialogical, creative, persuasive and ethical forms of academic and professional writing and speaking.

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Requisites

Prerequisites

One Unit (12.5%) KGA Level 200 OR Two Units (25%) Level 200 in Asian Studies, Ecology and Biological Sciences, Economics, English, Fine and Performing Arts, History, International Relations, Law, Management, Politics and Public Policy, Psychology, Sociology and Social Work

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	40 minute recorded talk (via MyLO), 80 (plus break) minute seminar and 80 (plus break) minute tutorial weekly. Online students who are unable to attend weekly tutorials due to health, work or other documented reasons can apply for non-tutorial assessment for AT1 (includes a hurdle task).
Assessment	AT3: Take-Home Examination (20%)|AT1: Critical Inquiry (40%)|AT2: Investigative Essay (40%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

The core of your learning in KGA308 is a required reading program, listed in a table in MyLO. The effort it takes will reward you. The program prepares you for seminars, tutorials and assessment tasks. Readings range from 20-40 pages a week.  Why read? From Week 2 onwards, readings are to be completed before seminars and tutorials (i.e., complete Week 2 readings before Week 2 classes). This pre-reading forms the basis for critical inquiry assignments, seminar and tutorial materials and discussions, and the exam. Pre-readings are chosen to promote inquiry-based learning and be diverse in length, difficulty, perspective, authorship, style, and focus. Readings you find unfamiliar, difficult, or even objectional may benefit your learning the most. In this interdisciplinary unit, you are not expected to accumulate jargon – translate discipline-specific content of readings into terms that make sense to the focus of your degree, career, and aspirations. How do I access readings? Links to electronic copies of readings are provided in the weekly instructions in MyLO ‘Content’. You can also access readings via the Library Reading List.

Recommended

There is no required textbook. This text is recommended and available as an e-book in the library: Robbins, P. 2020. Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction, 3rd edn. Malden: Wiley Blackwell. The UTas library holds many other relevant e-journals and ebooks.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.