POLSCI 4PE3 Global Political Ecology Short Paper

POLSCI 4PE3 Global Political Ecology Short Paper Professor: Robert O’Brien By: Harman Dhaliwal 400081154 McMaster University September 25, 2019 Political science is an arena of study that focuses on the relationship between political actions and its impact on the environment in numerous ways. The science behind the politics is a real subject to be looked at, as it can help us to make inferences about our political spectrum, that we may not have been able to do so before. A vital component of political science is the critical theory and processing that is done to formulate answers. It is crucial to use critical thinking due to how it can clear our judgment of false narratives and let us focus solely on compelling evidence. Within this area of a study, various departments offer alternative approaches and analyzations to pressing political science questions. Political ecology is a branch of political science that studies the relationship between social forms and human organization that interact with the environment (Bauler, n.d), as it differs from other political science courses. It uses more critical based theory rather than analytical, it is a concept that has not been introduced to me in other classes, and it varies from apolitical ecology studies by politicizing environmental issues and phenomena. The motive behind this field is to interpret the answers to how specific political actions can have a dire impact on the environment. This study would pertain to concerns such as “carbon tax, climate change, human population, growth, and migration” (Krebs, 2019). Political ecology can be used to educate policymakers and associations regarding the complexities encompassing condition and improvement, accordingly adding to better natural administration. Although some view this concept as an adaptation of knowledge that continues to keep on making a more extensive sub-setting in which geographic and advancement studies are worked on, making more prominent obstructions in its hypothetical arrangement, Robbins (2004) defines political ecology as, empirical, research-based explorations to explain linkages in the condition and change of social/environmental systems, with explicit considerations of relations of power. This paper will look to examine the similarities and differences with political ecology in comparison to other political science courses I have taken in my university career. I will compare the theoretical and analytical approaches between the different sectors of political science and while using weekly readings as a method of evidence. The reason as to why Political Ecology is so different from other concepts related to political science is because it uses ulterior approaches to help explain the relationship between politics and its surrounding environment. The topics to learn within political ecology are new ideas that I have not been taught in other political courses. Before this class, I had never learned about the international relations aspect of political science, which is a very significant department in this area of study. One thing that remains reminiscent in all facets of political science is the idea of conceptualizing power and using it to make an impact on important societal issues we face. It does not matter if you are learning provincial politics, or the causes of war, federalism, or even global politics, they all focus on consolidating power and creating an environment that is beneficial for all parties involved. Political ecology is comprised of various disciplines that it draws inspiration from such as anthropology, biology, geography, and political science. The concept of marginality is evident in political ecology and in a lot of other political science courses I have taken. It deals with political, economic, and ecological expressions as it may be mutually reinforcing, which can result in both land degradation and social marginalization (Blaikie and Brookfield, 1987). Anything within the political sphere can be marginalized and not be taken as a serious issue, which can lead to serious problems and obstacles to complete. Political policies and agendas determine as to how we treat our environmental surroundings and the impacts that we have upon it. The idea of the pressure of production on resources deals with the social relations that result in the imposition of excessive demands on the environment (Watts, 1983). This concept refers to the idea that we need certain resources to help with our increasing demands as citizens of the public, and that when there is a shortage of these resources, it can cause a load of challenges for a federal government. In today’s society, we as humans expect a lot more due to the technological advancements that have been made along with the rapid increase in infrastructure; this can create situations where there are diminishing resources. This is a huge problem for any government as a movement in the number of resources affects how they operate. Without certain resources, it becomes rather challenging for any legislative body to set and achieve goals. Plurality is another key concept with political ecology, as it deals with the positions, perceptions, interests, and rationalities concerning the environment (Blaikie, 1985). There are a lot of different vested interests that individuals have for the economy or the environment, and it is vital to understand how each action will impact the political spectre. Many have argued that the analyzation of politics of the environment does not merely add another dimension to an already complicated filed but enables a more vital study and practice (Paulson, 2003). The message intended with this statement is that, although some in the field may view political ecology as just another sector of political science, on the contrary, it is indeed an important aspect that needs to be focused and researched. Although other topics of political study may cater more to aspects of political, economic and ecological processes, the concept of political ecology is brought together by a common approach to deal with governmental issues as a challenged and arranged negotiated domain continual dialectic relationships with biophysical environments (Paulson, 2003). This course variates from other political science courses I have taken, due to the simple fact that I have never looked at the relationship between politics and the environment. The implications that are associated with this relationship are immense and can cause major problems for any governing body. A lot of the political science courses I have taken a look at dealing with the relationship between politics and power or understanding the science behind federal/provincial governments. For example, POLSCI 2F03 was a political science course that I took that looked at Canadian Politics. This course used a lot of analytical based evidence that supports the theories that were presented to us in the class. Political Ecology, in contrast, adopts a more theoretical approach to help us understand the theories within the subject matter. POLSCI 2006A/B, was a political science course that spanned over two semesters and concentrated on educating us on many famous political theorists theories on how a political governmental should be formalized. There was much theoretical work involved with this course as we had to understand how these philosophies could be applied to modern-day situations. Although it is similar to political ecology in how they both use theoretical statements to produce their arguments, it is not entirely the same as political ecology because it is a field that is expanding in modern-day with new studies and researches being created to figure out the burning issues centered around the relationship between politics and the environment. POLSCI 2IO3 is a global politics class that I am currently taking this semester, and there are many similarities with political ecology. International Relations is a big concept covered in both courses that try to help us understand the political spectrum. In global politics, I am learning how IR plays a factor in economic and political factors across the globe. While in political ecology, IR is used to help us explain the implications that may arise from challenges involved with politics and the environment. The concept of the Anthropocene is a vital concept brought up in IR, and it pertains to denoting the current geological age, viewed as the period during which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment. To conclude, political ecology is a unique course due to the fact; it covers a range of politics that other courses fail to give much attention to at all. Political Ecology is focused on answering the major questions involved in the relationship between politics and the environment. It differentiates from other political science courses I have taken, due to the fact it uses more theoretical based evidence, it is a new concept that was not introduced in other courses and differs from apolitical ecological studies by politicizing environmental issues and phenomena. References Bauler, T. (0AD). Retrieved from http://www.envjustice.org/2013/02/political-ecology/ Why Study Political Science? (0AD). Retrieved from https://politics.ubc.ca/undergraduate/why-political-science/ Political Ecology Has Come Of Age Geography Essay. (0AD). Retrieved from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/geography/political-ecology-has-come-of-age-geography-essay.php Krebs, C. (0AD). Retrieved from https://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~krebs/ecological_rants/category/political-ecology/ Burke, A., Fishel, S., Mitchell, A, Dalby, S., & Levine, D. J. (2016). Planet Politics: A Manifesto from the End of IR. Millennium, 44(3), 499 523. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305829816636674 Cox, L. (2007). Global Politics. In The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology, G. Ritzer (Ed.). doi:10.1002/9781405165518.wbeosg048 Harrington, C. (2016). The Ends of the Worlds: International Relations and the Anthropocene. Millennium, 44(3), 478 498. https://doi.org/10/1177/0305829816638745 Paulson, S., Gezon, L., & Watts, M. (2003). Locating the Political in Political Ecology: An introduction. Human Organization, 62(3), 205-217. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/44127401 Robbins, P. (2012). Political Ecology: a critical introduction. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell. Walker, P. A. (2005). Political Ecology: where is the ecology? Progress in Human Geography, 29(1), 73-82. https://doi.org/10.1191/0309132505ph530pr Page 1 Global Political Ecology Short Paper Essay