Here you can find the weekly readings that we recommend you read/watch in order to prepare BEFORE we meet in class. You can read and watch all the articles, book excerpts and videos that you can find here and keep the guiding questions for each week in mind. You should think about the questions on your own, as they serve as the basis for discussions in your reading groups and in class. Under “Further Reading”, you can find other material that you can dig into, if you are interested in the topic.
PLEASE REPORT ANY BROKEN LINKS TO THE COURSE COORDINATORS – asc@cemus.uu.se
We are still awaiting some additional readings to be set by guest lecturers, so please revise this page in the week preceding the lecture
January 21st: Course Introduction
Guiding Questions you should be able to answer to yourself after this session:
How does this course work? Have I read all the information provided in the welcome letter and course information document?
How can I obtain the course book(s)? Have I looked at the preliminary assignment titled “Why Change?”?
Suggested Reading/Watching:
January 28th: Seminar – Opportunities for Change
Guiding Questions you should be able to answer to yourself after this session:
Do I know how I will be examined and what I need to do weekly?
Code of Conduct:
February 4th: Theory of Change – Neil Powell
Guiding Questions you should be able to answer to yourself after this session:
How does Sustainable Development relate to achieving change? Which theories of change have shown to be the most effective?
Suggested Reading/Watching from Neil:
February 11th: Conceptual Seminar
Guiding Questions you should be able to answer to yourself after this session:
How do the different theories of change complement or contrast with each other? Which one do you think is the most realistic, and why?
Suggested Reading/Watching:
To follow up on what Neil discussed last week, have a look at this article: “Global Sustainability: The Challenge Ahead”
Articles on the Theories of Change that we discussed in today’s seminar:
and the three summaries from today’s class:
February 18th: Activism as a Tool for Change – Karl Andreasson
Suggested Reading/Watching:
All of the three below sections.
Beginning, Middle, End of the Ende.
More Reading/Watching:
Follow-up from Karl’s lecture and discussion:
Here are some of the organisations that Karl Andreasson mentioned in today’s lecture:
&
February 25th: Can Cities be Sustainable? A Roadmap for Urban Planning – Robin Rushdi Al-Sálehi
Instructions for Class:
Bring in a photo that represents your home neighbourhood, here in Sweden or in your home country. (via photo/phone/computer). Can be a photo of anything that is outdoors in your neighbourhood. Here is one of Guy’s home neighbourhood for context:
Guiding Questions you should be able to answer to yourself after this session:
What agency do we have to make changes in the places where we live? What tools and knowledge do we need for transformative urban planning?
Suggested Reading/Watching:
- “Space and Place” excerpt from “Just Sustainabilities” by Julian Agyeman
- Tactical Urbanist’s Guide to Materials and Design (skim-read for ideas!)
Follow-up on lecture:
Interesting documentary called Bikes vs Cars that highlights a lot of issues with city infrastructure and transport. Should be viewable via an Uppsala University Library login.
Article on the large impact of the concrete industry.
March 4th: Role of Media and Free Speech in Social Change – Joakim Medin
Guiding Questions you should be able to answer to yourself after this session:
How can media be used as a tool for change, especially undercover and investigative journalism?
Suggested Reading/Watching:
“Welcome to Sin City” – pp. 39-64
1st Interview with Joakim on TV4 (Swedish only)
2nd Interview with Joakim on TV4 (Swedish only)
March 11th: Panel Discussion – Bottom-up vs Top-down? Power Struggles in the Quest for Change
Guiding Questions you should be able to answer to yourself after this session:
How do we address power inequalities when we push for change? How do we strike a balance between bottom-up and top-down, is there one possible?
Suggested Reading/Watching:
Dialogue, Activism, and Democratic Social Change
Sustainable entrepreneurship and sustainability innovation
Sustainability Leadership – Co-creating a Sustainable Future
Leadership for Sustainability, ASAP!
Anti-Corruption Collective Action
Any of the publications from the Basel Institute on Governance
March 18th: Together for Change – Empowering children and youth to overcome poverty, unemployment and crime – Wanjiku Kaime Atterhög
Guiding Questions:
Wanjiku would like to engage you in discussion on children and young people living in poverty and on the margins (in particular those who live and work on the streets and those caught up in the sex industry), from causes to intervening factors to sustainable solutions to make them citizens.
Suggested Reading/Watching:
The context in Africa comprises Wanjiku’s PhD thesis and the following two videos – one on the school in Uganda and one on the caregivers she has trained there (there are 13 similar groups globally)
The following website is also a source of good information on her work in Africa: www.houseofplenty.se
Appendix 1, Appendix 2, Appendix 3 (For further context)
March 25th: Adapting to Climate Change – Vane Aminga & Karolina Eklöw
Guiding Questions you should be able to answer to yourself after this session:
1. Climate change poses larger threats to developing countries, but countermeasures by all countries to abate climate change might mean slowed growth for countries that seek eventual “developed” status. With international instruments such as the Paris Accord, how ready are developing nations to bargain with developed countries on abatement(mitigation and adaptation) measures? What do you think needs to be done to streamline such negotiations?
2. To lessen the adverse effect of climate change on human societies, the key options are either to mitigate or adapt. Adaptation can be anything from favouring locally grown, resilient crops to large-scale resettlement carried out by authorities. For example, a community of thousands would be moved from a risk-prone area (such as a flood plain) to an urban environment. If you were to carry out a resettlement project, what do you think that you would need to consider to ensure a sustainable and safe process? Which aspects are to prioritise – and guarantee – to ensure a sustainable resettlement? What can be the downsides?
Suggested Reading/Watching:
What is climate change adaptation?
Climate Adaptation and Sustainable Development, pp.456-459
Action Plan on Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience (skim-read)
April 1st: Artivism as a Tool for Change – Lisa Farnström & Paolo Zuccotti
Task
Please surf this website, which is a collection of creative actions
Have a look at the different components:
Guiding Questions to consider before class:
April 8th: Food Consumption – A Question of Morality?
Suggested Reading/Watching:
Link to Tim’s website, the owner of the farm that we’re planning a field trip to.
April 15th: Civic Courage and Existential Risk in a Time of Uncertainty – Brian Palmer
Guiding Questions you should be able to answer to yourself after this session:
Suggested Reading/Watching: