HISTORY OF THE ENVIRONMENT
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
No requirements required
The exam is an oral interview, which aims at assessing the knowledge of the main topics discussed in the class and included in the reference books. The interview includes - at least - one question on each reference book and - at least - one question on the learning material uploaded to the e-learning platform. The final grade (out of thirty) is formulated on the basis of:
- accuracy of answers (65%),
- language skills and argumentative capacity (20%),
- critical analysis skills (15%).
Environmental and health emergencies are undoubtedly among the great political, scientific, social and economic challenges of the twenty-first century. The contemporary age, and more generally the entire history of mankind, has been distinguished by an ongoing confrontation with events and phenomena of extreme environmental as well as anthropic hazards that, albeit at different geographical levels and over different historical periods, have outlined some relevant emergencies, by triggering deep transformations and social cleavages.
The course aims at giving some valuable insights into the complex historical relationship between environmental and human contexts, by considering both some particularly emblematic case studies and the "topic of emergency" in a historical perspective. Some emergency events - such as technological-industrial, natural and health catastrophes/crises - are analysed.
Learning outcomes:
- knowledge of the main historical events and the emergency implications that have helped to define the contemporary environmental and social history;
- knowledge of historical and social research methodologies applied to the study of the environment;
- ability to promote an appropriate culture of the environment by means of history and storytelling;
- ability to explain the topics and notions illustrated in the class with a proper use of critical argumentations.
The course is divided into two parts. The first focuses on themes and issues of an environmental history of the contemporary age (about 10 hours). The second (about 54 hours) attempts to shed light on the historical relevance - as responsible for deep social transformations - of some environmental and epidemiological emergencies that have distinguished contemporary history. By outlining an overview of some main contemporary crises, the course aims at analysing the intertwining and overlapping between natural, technological/industrial and health disasters/crises. The historical reconstruction of some case studies, with particular emphasis on the Italian background, is an opportunity to deal with crucial issues that have fuelled the social, political and scientific debate on emergency management from the second half of the twentieth century to the present. A particular attention is given to the topic of "climate change" (probably the greatest global emergency) and the role it can play as potential trigger of crises (refugees, wars, famine, social inequalities, epidemics).
1. The complete study of the following book is required:
- S. Luzzi, "Il virus del benessere. Ambiente, salute, sviluppo nell’Italia repubblicana", Laterza, Roma-Bari 2009.
2. and then a book to be chosen between:
- S. Plokhy, "Chernobyl. Storia di una catastrofe nucleare", Bur, Milano 2019.
- G. Mstrojeni e A. Pasini, "Effetto serra, effetto guerra", Chiarelettere, Milano 2017.
- R. Guha, "Ambientalismi. Una storia globale dei movimenti", Linaria, Roma 2016.
- N. Scaffai, "Letteratura e ecologia. Forme e temi di una relazione narrativa", Carocci, Roma 2017.
In the end, it is required the study of the learning material which will be uploaded to the e-learning platform.
The course is scheduled in 64 hours of lectures. Students are also encouraged to interact each other and with the teacher during the class. Seminars and workshops may be arranged in order to delve more deeply into some key topics. Audiovisual aids, documentaries and movies are used to encourage classroom discussions.
The professor receives by appointment, that can be scheduled by sending an e-mail to: a.candela@uninsubria.it. Any request for explanations about the lectures and books may also be issued at the end of each lesson.