2015/16 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

GEOG5030M Thinking through Global Urban Justice

30 creditsClass Size: 25

Module manager: Paul Chatterton
Email: P.Chatterton@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2015/16

Module replaces

Spaces of Radical Thought GEOG5360M (Long 30 credits) ; Spaces of Radical Thought GEOG5300M (Short 15 credits); Space and Social Theory GEOG5130M (Short 15 credits)

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module provides the intellectual foundations for theorising global urban in/justice. It introduces students to a critical understanding of contemporary global urbanisms through three distinct but interrelated challenges across the global north and south: environmental, social and spatial justice. The module brings together approaches from feminist, Marxist, environmental, and urban theories to break down existing theoretical divides between global north/south, rural/urban, justice/injustice. The module is taught using a combination of lectures and seminars. Lectures will be used to introduce students to the key themes and debates for the particular week. The seminars will be used to explore these themes through a variety of interactive activities such as debates, discussions, student-led presentations. Assessment involves developing independent and advanced skills in reading, critical thinking and writing. All students are expected to submit one piece of assessed written work of 5000 words and three blog posts of 1000 words each.

Objectives

-Assessment, synthesis and critical evaluation of theoretical debates shaping three aspects of justice- social, environmental and spatial justice
-Understanding the contribution of feminist, Marxist, ecological and urban theories to challenges of climate change, urbanization and the making of new forms of citizenship
-Understanding of the causes, reasons and consequences of the uneven geography of urban justice along the lines of race, class, ethnicity, gender and other social differences
-Understanding of contemporary social movements, struggles and activism to access rights and justice across the world

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students should be able to demonstrate:
- Understanding of a range of key themes and debates around pressing global challenges and the issues at stake for 'global urban justice' in these debates.
- Application of range of theoretical tools to intervene in debates around just, equitable and sustainable urban futures both in the global north and south.
- Advanced skills in critical reading and thought around urban in/justice;
- Advanced skills in critical essay preparation and writing around theories and forms of urban in/justice
- Enhanced skills in discussion and argumentation with lecturers and peers around the causes and consequences of global urban in/justice.

Skills outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding:
1) The uneven geographies of urban in/justice across the world across social differences
2) The inter-relationships with social, spatial and environmental justice globally.
3) Recognise the ethical issues involved in geographical debates and enquiries
Cognitive skills:
4) Abstraction and synthesis of information from a variety of sources
5) Assessment and critical evaluation of the merits of contrasting theories, explanations, policies
6) Critical analysis and interpretation of data and text
7) Developing reasoned arguments.
Key skills:
8) Communicate effectively (in writing and verbally)
9) Identify, retrieve, sort and exchange information using a wide range of sources
10) Use information technology effectively (including use of blogposts and word processing programmes; Internet and e-mail)
11) Manage time and organise work effectively
12) Work as part of a team and to recognise and respect the viewpoints of others

Syllabus

This module will run over semester 1. The module is divided into four interconnecting blocks on environmental justice, spatial justice, social justice and a final block on thinking through global urban (in)justice. The final block connects the three notions of justice into a critique of contemporary global urbanism. Block 1& 2 will run simultaneously on two days of the week till reading week, while blocks 3 & 4 will run simultaneously on two days of the week after reading week.
The two hour lecture slots on each topic will be creatively used to encourage student interaction and participation. The first hour will be delivered as a traditional lecture, and then the 2nd hour will be used for a variety of interactive activities such as debates, discussions and student-led presentations.

Week 1: Introduction to module
Block 1: Environmental Justice
Indicative topics: Histories and theories of environmental justice; Climate change and global commons; The ‘nature’ of cities; resource sovereignty
Block 2: Spatial justice
Indicative topics: Histories and theories of spatial justice; Ordinary and global cities; New urban utopias (new towns, eco-cities, smart cities); Urban informality
Block 3: Social justice
Indicative topics: Approaches to a right to the city; Deep democracy and active citizenship; Insurgent citizenship and guerrilla urbanism; Intimate and embodied citizenships
Block 4: Thinking through global urban in/justice
Indicative topics: Geographies of in/justice; Urban justice and social difference; Recovering the commons; Climate justice and social movements
Week 11 Conclusions: Approaching global urban in/justice

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	2.00	20.00
Seminar	8	2.00	16.00
Private study hours			264.00
Total Contact hours			36.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

- 84 hours reading to support lectures and classroom participation
- 70 hours reading, writing and independent research for blog posts.
- 110 hours for reading, writing and independent research for essay

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

1. Classroom discussions during each lecture
2. VLE and student participation during lectures
3. Assessed blog posts and essay.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	5000 words	70.00
Online Assessment	Blog posts 1000 words	10.00
Online Assessment	Blog posts 1000 words	10.00
Online Assessment	Blog posts 1000 words	10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 04/12/2015

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