ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS OF AGRICULTURE*

概要

This course explores the making of the global agro-food system and its role in shaping international relations of food and transformation of agrarian societies from a multi-disciplinary perspective. We focus on questions relating to who are the winners and losers from contemporary patterns of global economic change. This includes the analysis of relevant conceptual approaches to these questions (including international trade, comparative advantage, food regime theory, regionalism, economic governance, development and post-development, etc) as well as close examination of the key institutions (WTO and WB) driving these changes. In so doing, this course aims to develop the ability to think critically about how and why our everyday relations to food (from production to consumption) have dramatically transformed over the last century and how this transformation affects the environment.

目標

This course is divided into three main themes. First, we study the international structures of food trade, production, and consumption. What role does agriculture play in domestic and international politics? What is the global food regime? Who sets the rules? The second theme of the course is to evaluate the impacts of the global food systems on the Global South (in particular, smallholders of agricultural land). Why is world hunger still pervasive despite repeated efforts by the international community? Does world hunger originate from not producing enough food? Does trade liberalization help eliminate world hunger? To answer these questions, we will read carefully the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Agriculture and the World Bank’s World Development Report 2008. Third, we shift our focus to food security, chains, agro-food supply chains, and alternative farming. The global food and energy crises of 2007-2008 (together with the financial crisis) illustrated the importance of food security and food sovereignty. In sum, we think about not only how our food gets to our table but also what alternatives exist for the future of agriculture.

授業外の学習

190 minutes per class 150 (min) for assigned readings; 40 (min) to prepare summaries and organize notes.

所要時間: 190 minutes per class