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IR3206   The Politics of Postcolonial Forests

Academic year(s): 2024-2025

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 30

ECTS credits : 15

Level : SCQF level 9

Semester: 2

Planned timetable: Mon 12pm

Forests are essential to life on earth. They support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, provide resources for economic activity along with food, homes and medicine for forest dependent communities around the world. However, forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Their rapid deforestation has turned the attention of the international community towards urging the establishment of sustainable forest use practices in forest-rich countries around the world. Tropical forests are of particular importance for supporting climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation targets. These forests are found in the postcolonial, developing world. This module explores the politics of postcolonial forests at the global, regional and national levels. At the close of this module, students will understand the role of tropical forests in addressing environmental challenges, the threats to their sustainability, and efforts to govern them at varying scales. Concepts indispensable to an understanding of forest politics in postcolonial contexts will also be introduced, such as development, conservation and neoliberalism.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Before taking this module you must pass IR2005 and pass IR2006

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 1 lecture (x10 weeks) 1 tutorial (x10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours: 20

Guided independent study hours: 268

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: Coursework = 100%


Re-assessment: Exam = 100%

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr Y A Collins
Module teaching staff: Dr Ariadne Collins
Module coordinator email yac1@st-andrews.ac.uk

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand the challenges associated with sustainably utilizing, governing and managing tropical forests
  • Become familiar with the theoretical debates around effective forest governance and management
  • Become familiar with the conceptual debates around effective forest governance and management
  • Understand the specific dynamics and debates underpinning forest politics in postcolonial contexts.