About the course
The human-environment relationship has always been at the core of geography. Historically, that has generally meant a binary opposition between the urban and the natural, with cities evoked as the opposite of nature and suburbanization often read as the desire to get back to nature. In recent years, however, theorists have argued that there is nothing at all unnatural about the city; for example, biophysical processes such as water and waste flows demonstrate how closely integrated the city is with its environment. This new approach argues that “nature” and “cities” are not separate now and never have been, and that thinking in terms of socionature is more fruitful for both theoretical and practical reasons. At the same time, ongoing and intensifying commodification of the environment is overtly bringing nature into the city in terms of green buildings and so-called environmentally-friendly or sustainable development. Urban sustainability has become a popular buzzword, though many observers warn that it simply contributes to “greenwashing” while business-as-usual continues.
This seminar will examine recent work in geography and related fields on the urban environment, largely through an urban political ecology approach. Based on participants’ interests, readings will cover such topics as urban metabolism, socionature and hybridity, environmental justice, indoor environmental quality, urban agriculture, cities and climate change, and waterfront redevelopment. The focus will be on North America and Europe, including authors such as Cronon, Keil, Gandy, Swyngedouw, Heynen, Robbins, and Braun. This blog provides an opportunity for outside-of-class discussions as well as a less-structured environment for conversation.
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