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233042 SE Earth System / World Order (2020S)
An STS Introduction to Planetary Geopolitics
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from Mo 03.02.2020 09:00 to Su 23.02.2020 23:59
- Registration is open from We 26.02.2020 09:00 to Su 15.03.2020 23:59
- Deregistration possible until We 22.04.2020 23:59
Details
max. 25 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Monday 23.03. 12:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien (Kickoff Class)
- Monday 20.04. 09:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 21.04. 10:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Friday 24.04. 09:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 28.04. 11:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Thursday 30.04. 14:45 - 16:45 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Monday 04.05. 09:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 05.05. 11:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
This seminar examines the rise of planetary phenomena as a central object of scientific, technological and political concern. We will review and apply STS concepts to critically engage with the actors, institutions, and events that are shaping current discussions of issues such as global climate change, systemic ecological destruction, and the exhaustion of nonrenewable resources, as well as proposed 'solutions' such as geoengineering and non-conventional fossil fuels. We will read key texts in neighboring disciplines (history, cultural anthropology, political science) and ask what STS can contribute to this conversation. Is global power being refashioned on a new kind of ground, where the geo in geopolitics is becoming genuinely geological? Is "World Order" becoming continuous with 'Earth System', and what would the implications be for how we think of nation states, markets, international institutions, expertise, and the possibility of democratic politics?
Assessment and permitted materials
To pass the seminar, students are expected to complete the following tasks:
1. Class participation: Students must actively participate in class. This is a discussion-based course. It follows that all students must have read all required readings prior to class. Students must be prepared to orally present their understanding of the readings, relate them to the readings of preceding sessions and engage their fellow students.
2. Reading responses: Students will prepare short reading responses (ca. 1 page) before each class. Responses are meant to engage one of the day’s readings, not as a summary but as a reflection on the problem the author responds to, the argument they put forward, and in what relationship this places them to authors from earlier sessions. Bonus points will be awarded for choosing an author from outside STS, identifying how their approach differs from an STS approach, and discussing what questions could be asked of the author’s topic from an STS perspective. Responses should be sent by email to the instructor (stefan.schaefer@iass-potsdam.de) no later than 6pm the night before class. All students will present their reading responses during class to facilitate discussion. You do not have to prepare a reading response for the first class.
3. Final project: As a final project, students will prepare an essay (3.000-5.000 words) that draws on the concepts discussed in class to shed light on an empirical case of their choosing. Topic and approach of the essay must be agreed with the instructor. A crucial part of writing a successful essay is choosing a topic that can be dealt with effectively within the confines imposed by the essay’s word limit.
1. Class participation: Students must actively participate in class. This is a discussion-based course. It follows that all students must have read all required readings prior to class. Students must be prepared to orally present their understanding of the readings, relate them to the readings of preceding sessions and engage their fellow students.
2. Reading responses: Students will prepare short reading responses (ca. 1 page) before each class. Responses are meant to engage one of the day’s readings, not as a summary but as a reflection on the problem the author responds to, the argument they put forward, and in what relationship this places them to authors from earlier sessions. Bonus points will be awarded for choosing an author from outside STS, identifying how their approach differs from an STS approach, and discussing what questions could be asked of the author’s topic from an STS perspective. Responses should be sent by email to the instructor (stefan.schaefer@iass-potsdam.de) no later than 6pm the night before class. All students will present their reading responses during class to facilitate discussion. You do not have to prepare a reading response for the first class.
3. Final project: As a final project, students will prepare an essay (3.000-5.000 words) that draws on the concepts discussed in class to shed light on an empirical case of their choosing. Topic and approach of the essay must be agreed with the instructor. A crucial part of writing a successful essay is choosing a topic that can be dealt with effectively within the confines imposed by the essay’s word limit.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
The grading scheme is based on a total of 100 points. These points will be awarded in relation to students’ performance in meeting the course learning aims in the different obligatory tasks.The maximum number of points to be acquired for each task is:Class participation: 30, assessed individually, feedback on request;
Reading responses: 30, assessed individually, feedback on request;
Final project: 40, assessed individually, feedback on request;Minimum requirements
A minimum of 50 points is necessary to successfully complete the course. Failure to meet the attendance regulations, to deliver course assignments on time or to adhere to standards of academic work may result in a deduction of points.Grades
100-87 points Excellent (1)
86-75 points Good (2)
74-63 points Satisfactory (3)
62-50 points Sufficient (4)
49-0 points Unsatisfactory (5) (fail)Attendance
Presence and participation is compulsory. Absences of four hours at maximum are tolerated, provided that the lecturer is informed about the absence. Absences of up to eight hours in total may be compensated by either a deduction of grading points or/and extra work agreed with the lecturer. Whether compensation is possible is decided by the lecturer.
Absences of more than eight hours in total cannot be compensated. In this case, or if the lecturer does not allow a student to compensate absences of more than four hours, the course cannot be completed and is graded as a ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfil the attendance requirements on the student’s side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.Important Grading Information
If not explicitly noted otherwise, all requirements mentioned in the grading scheme and the attendance regulations must be met. If a required task is not fulfilled, e.g. a required assignment is not handed in or if the student does not meet the attendance requirements, this will be considered as a discontinuation of the course. In that case, the course will be graded as ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfill the task on the student's side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.
If any requirement of the course has been fulfilled by fraudulent means, be it for example by cheating at an exam, plagiarizing parts of a written assignment or by faking signatures on an attendance sheet, the student's participation in the course will be discontinued, the entire course will be graded as ‘not assessed’ and will be entered into the electronic exam record as ‘fraudulently obtained’. Self-plagiarism, particularly re-using own work handed in for other courses, will be treated likewise.
Reading responses: 30, assessed individually, feedback on request;
Final project: 40, assessed individually, feedback on request;Minimum requirements
A minimum of 50 points is necessary to successfully complete the course. Failure to meet the attendance regulations, to deliver course assignments on time or to adhere to standards of academic work may result in a deduction of points.Grades
100-87 points Excellent (1)
86-75 points Good (2)
74-63 points Satisfactory (3)
62-50 points Sufficient (4)
49-0 points Unsatisfactory (5) (fail)Attendance
Presence and participation is compulsory. Absences of four hours at maximum are tolerated, provided that the lecturer is informed about the absence. Absences of up to eight hours in total may be compensated by either a deduction of grading points or/and extra work agreed with the lecturer. Whether compensation is possible is decided by the lecturer.
Absences of more than eight hours in total cannot be compensated. In this case, or if the lecturer does not allow a student to compensate absences of more than four hours, the course cannot be completed and is graded as a ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfil the attendance requirements on the student’s side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.Important Grading Information
If not explicitly noted otherwise, all requirements mentioned in the grading scheme and the attendance regulations must be met. If a required task is not fulfilled, e.g. a required assignment is not handed in or if the student does not meet the attendance requirements, this will be considered as a discontinuation of the course. In that case, the course will be graded as ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfill the task on the student's side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.
If any requirement of the course has been fulfilled by fraudulent means, be it for example by cheating at an exam, plagiarizing parts of a written assignment or by faking signatures on an attendance sheet, the student's participation in the course will be discontinued, the entire course will be graded as ‘not assessed’ and will be entered into the electronic exam record as ‘fraudulently obtained’. Self-plagiarism, particularly re-using own work handed in for other courses, will be treated likewise.
Examination topics
Reading list
Association in the course directory
Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:21