SUM4531 – Latin America in the New Global Resource Politics
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
In this course you will learn about Latin America’s role in creating or hindering global processes of change towards a sustainable future. Latin America holds a large share of the world’s natural Resources, including rainforests, metals, minerals and an extraordinary biodiversity. Its historical role has been to be a raw material producer, but it also holds the keys to limiting climate change and conserving biodiversity on land and in the oceans, and it has been the cradle of important thinking on development and the environment.
In this course we will first learn about Latin American thinking on environment and development and on the role of Latin America in global governance. The second part delves into constraints against more sustainable practices, focusing on the interaction between economic structures and political institutions. In the final part, we will look at key policies, movement and initiatives from Latin America aimed at reducing climate change and improving natural resource management.
Learning outcome
In this course you will learn about how global, national and local power structures interact to limit or strengthen initiatives and processes aimed at creating necessary change in practices for a more sustainable future, with a particular focus on Latin America.
It will enable the student to analyze and develop policies in different contexts characterized by distinct institutions and economic structures.
Admission
You may apply to be a guest student at SUM. Please follow these instructions.
Overlapping courses
5 credits overlap with SUM4031 – Latin American Politics and Development
Teaching
This course will be an intensive course over one week: It will combine lectures and problem-based seminars focusing on questions like: How can we create sustainable practices to preserve the Amazon in spite of adverse political situations? How does the new super-power policies (China, the United States) impact on local initiatives for sustainable futures?
Examination
4 hour school exam.
Written examination
The written examination is conducted in the digital examination system Inspera. You will need to familiarize yourself with the digital examination arrangements in Inspera.
Read more about written examinations using Inspera.
Use of sources and citation
You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.
Examination support material
Students may use a language translation dictionary at this exam.
- Language translation dictionaries may be used in examinations. A language translation dictionary is defined as a dictionary that simply gives equivalent words or phrases in two languages, without further explanatory text or description.
- You may bring a maximum of two dictionaries.
- Electronic dictionaries are not to be used in examinations.
- Dictionaries must be unmarked and free of notations.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.