Climate Crisis: Averting Chaos in a Warming World

online course

This online course provides a critical introduction to understanding the politics of climate change under conditions of economic and political crisis. It presents a critical perspective on the relationship between the environment and development, nature, society and the Anthropocene, and focuses on the dynamics of socio-environmental change, giving attention to its material and economic, political and organisational as well as cultural and ideological dimensions. The foundation of the course is a theoretical consideration of the history, politics and economics of climate change under capitalism. This is followed by an interrogation of the diplomacy of climate change negotiations, including the Paris Agreement and the IPCC reports, feminist approaches to the environment and ecosocialism. Finally, the course examines contemporary questions to do with technology and the climate, racism and climate denial, and the potential of the movements to force capitalist states and corporations to act to address the climate crisis on the scale that is required.

Course leader

Feyzi Ismail

Target group

You will have completed one year of undergraduate study at the time of joining the Academic Summer School. Professional experience can be acknowledged as equivalent to a university qualification.

Course aim

- A critical understanding of the key theoretical debates on the environment, political ecology and climate change, including an understanding of the debate over the Anthropocene.
- An understanding of the nature and history of the carbon economy.
- An understanding of the relationship between climate movements, the state, carbon industries and corporations, and mechanisms for sustainable transitions, and applying this understanding to country case studies.
- A capacity to identify, understand and critique the agreements and policies of the institutions and governments involved in climate negotiations at a global level.

Credits info

15 EC
Courses are worth 15 SOAS credits, which is equivalent to 4 credits in the US system and 7.5 ECTS in the European system. If you intend to transfer credit to your home institution, please check the requirements with them before you apply. We will be happy to assist you in any way we can, however please be aware that the decision to transfer credit rests with your home institution.

Fee info

GBP 1200: - Save £200 if you apply by 30th April
- 10% discount if you apply for two courses over 6 weeks
- 15% discount for SOAS alumni (including Academic Summer School alumni)
- 20% discount for our partner institutions

Other discounts are available for groups, please contact us for further information.

Scholarships

The SOAS Academic Summer School is delighted to offer four tuition-fee waiver scholarships to passionate students with a desire to make a difference in the world.

Deadline: 13th March 2020