Introductory description

This module addresses the social and political principles of Global Sustainable Development. Its teaching methods range from stimulus to simulation in order to allow students to engage with theoretically complex concepts through practical activities. It is taught in a combination of lectures and seminars and involves group activities as well as online collaboration.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Lecture and Workshop Topics

• Introduction
• GSD in the Anthropocene: Society and the environment
• The politics of sustainability: Governance and ideology
• Sustaining society in an unequal world: Poverty, inequality and exclusion
• Uneven development: imperialism and interdependence
• Sustainable knowledge?: Science and education
• Food and sustainability
• Health and sustainability
• Sustainable Cities

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• To offer a well-informed evidence-based explanation of the key challenges that face our world, focussing on the social and political dimensions
• To explain the global social problems that are caused by particular forms of economic development
• Explain and reflect critically on the reasons why some countries developed while others stayed poor
• Engage critically with various strategies that have been suggested to address social inequality
• Develop an understanding of the sustainability implications for societies of different forms of food, education and health challenges
• Write critically about different ideas of sustainable development

Indicative reading list

Baker, S. (2015). Sustainable Development. London: Routledge. (*Available as an a-book via the Library here.)
Desai, Vandana, and Robert B. Potter. 2014. The Companion to Development Studies. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. (Available as an a-book here).
Hite, A.B., Roberts, J.T. and Chorev, N. (2012) The Globalization and Development Reader. Perspectives on Development and Global Change. Vancouver: Blackwell Publishing
Kingsbury, D., McKay, J., Hunt, J., McGillivray, M. and Clarke, M. (2012) International development. Issues and challenges. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Pretty, Jules, Andy Ball, Ted Benton, Julia Guivant, David R Lee, David Orr, Max Pfeffer, and Hugh Ward. 2007. The Sage Handbook of Environment and Society. London: Sage.
Redclift, Michael R., and Graham Woodgate, eds. The international handbook of environmental sociology. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.
Robbins, Paul. 2007. Encyclopedia of Environment and Society. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications Ltd.
Sachs, J.D. (2015). The age of sustainable development. New York: Columbia University Press
Additional journal articles and resources will be made available on the moodle site

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Research element

Research skills are embedded into the teaching strategy of the module; students are expected to read and critically analyse scholarly papers written from a variety of perspectives

Interdisciplinary

This is a core module on the Global Sustainable Development course which adopts an interdisciplinary approach spanning the arts, humanities, social and natural sciences fields in order to engage with the major global challenges facing contemporary society, explore these 'big problems,' from a variety of perspectives and consider a range of possible solutions.

International

This is a core module on the Global Sustainable Development course which offers a unique trans-disciplinary and international learning experience that allows students to achieve breadth and depth of knowledge.

Subject specific skills

Ability to:
critically assess and analyse sustainability issues that need to be addressed, including real-life examples
use and apply established frameworks and methodologies for analysing the impact(s) of a behaviour or process
generate and evaluate different models of sustainable development to assess their likely impact
actively implement or contribute to changes that promote sustainable development within the scope of own learning experience
engage with real-life problems relevant to sustainable development
use historical knowledge and an understanding of the consequences of past actions to envision how futures may be shaped
identify the importance of empowering individuals and organisations to work together to create new knowledge
employ leadership for sustainable development by challenging assumptions and negotiating alternatives to unsustainable current practices
identify the opportunities to support and develop a progressive and resilient culture that encourages citizens, professions and institutions to put learning into practice

Transferable skills

Written communication skills
Oral communication skills
Working with others
Problem solving
Information technology
Numeracy
Research across various disciplines
Peer review