Begins August 29, class sessions on Tuesdays from 7 pm to 8:30 pm US Eastern time for ten weeks. Instructor: Brian Tokar. Via Zoom.
Over nearly six decades, radical ecologists with widely varied outlooks and philosophies have begun to transform the field – frequently a tool of colonialism and corporate resource management in its earlier years – and developed modes of thought and action that are aimed toward the radical transformation of society. This ten-week class will examine that evolution in depth, and illustrate how social ecologists and many others have helped advance the story of environmental radicalism from the 1960s to the present.
We will explore a variety of perspectives both in theory and praxis, many of which were influenced by social ecology and also helped shape its own development. We will also examine recent trends toward nihilistic and apocalyptic views in the environmental movement and how social ecology and a broadly internationalist perspective can help us reach beyond those tendencies.
This course aims to offer a comprehensive overview of many philosophical and activist
approaches
that have shaped environmental radicalism from the 1960s to the
present, such as social ecology, deep ecology, environmental justice,
ecofeminism, ecosocialism, animal liberation and more. We will examine
several of these perspectives in depth, drawing from both historical and
contemporary sources and a wide range of unique examples. How have each
of these perspectives broadened our understanding of human societies
and our relationships with the natural world? What modes of thought and
action have proved effective in challenging a status quo that tends to
relegate ecological concerns to the margins of politics? How has
mainstream environmentalism evolved in response to these radical
challenges, and how can we move beyond despair in response to current
ecological and political challenges?
Specific topics will include:
Early environmental outlooks: From colonization to revolution
The outlook and contributions of social ecology
Ecofeminism and environmental justice
Ecosocialism and ecological Marxism
Animal rights and animal liberation
Origins of environmental direct action
What is deep ecology?
Eco-nihilism: Sabotage, anti-civilization and state repression
Critical international perspectives
Is an ecological future still possible?