Africa: Environment and Society
Despite Western images of Africa as either a wilderness devoid of humans or as a place of human tragedy unfolding within recurrent environmental disasters, social-ecological interrelations in Africa are complex and dynamic. The central aim of this seminar will be to look at issues in social-ecological dynamics through case studies on several themes. We will begin by comparing local, regional, and global understandings of Africa’s environments and how these affect historical modes of production, environmental management, and natural resource conflicts. Next we will focus on the dilemmas and conflicts surrounding environmental conservation and development. We will end by investigating African social-ecological resilience and vulnerability in the face of war, environmental change, and population displacement. 3 hrs. lect./disc., 2 hrs. screen.