BSSb1198 Environmental Threats and Security

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2021
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Miriam Matejova, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Miriam Matejova, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Division of Security and Strategic Studies – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 14:00–15:40 U34
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 21 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course examines key environmental threats, including environmental disasters, pollution, climate change, consumption and waste, and inter-state competition over scarce resources. Students will gain an understanding of various theoretical frameworks, which will allow them to analyze modern environmental threats and security challenges.
Learning outcomes
Students will gain theoretical knowledge, which will help them analyze modern environmental threats and environmental security challenges. Absolvents will be able to identify, explain, and present environmental problems as environmental threats.
Syllabus
  • Environmental problems and why it is difficult to manage them
  • Environmental security: history and concepts
  • Do environmental changes cause conflict? The debate from the 90s
  • Environmental security in the era of climate change
  • . Catastrophic future?
  • Modern environmental threats
  • Environmental security: a sustainable future?
Literature
    required literature
  • Hough, Peter. 2004. Understanding Global Security, 2nd ed. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Martinovský, Petr. 2016. Environmentální Bezpečnost v České Republice. Brno: IIPS.
  • Deudney, Daniel. 1991. “Environment and Security: Muddled Thinking.” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Vol. 47, No. 3, pp. 22-28.
  • Homer-Dixon, Thomas. 1994. “Environmental Scarcities and Violent Conflict: Evidence from Cases.” International Security, Vol. 19, no.1, pp. 5-40.
  • CNA Corp. 2007. “National Security and the Threat of Climate Change,” pp.8-24.
  • Barnett, Jon, and W. Neil Adger. 2007. “Climate Change, Human Security and Violent Conflict.” Political Geography, Vol. 26, No. 6, pp. 639-655.
  • Dauvergne, Peter. 2008. The Shadows of Consumption. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
    recommended literature
  • Kukal, Zdeněk, a Karel Pošmourný. 2005. Přírodní katastrofy a rizika. Příspěvek geologie k ochraně lidí a krajiny před přírodními katastrofami. Praha: Ministerstvo životního prostředí České republiky.
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussion, group presentations
Assessment methods
Group presentation, written exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2021/BSSb1198