Introduction to Environmental Sociology

Most environmental problems are related to human social activities. To date, countless people have been injured or suffered due to the destruction of
nature and environmental pollution. In many cases, envrionmental problems have social causes, and solving them requires not only scientific and
technological solutions but also a unified response from society as a whole. This course introduces students to the theoretical thinking and practical
research methods of environmental sociology to allow them to make their own considerations and criticisms of environmental issues.
The issues that will be discussed include: 1) the perpetrators and damage structures of environmental problems and the characteristics of the various
institutions and organizations involved, and 2) the triggers for and results of environmental actions and movements, and the difficulties and obstacles
facing collective action. Various environmental problems around the world will be used as examples. Environmental sociology is an “active sociology”
that aims to solve the environmental issues created by humans, and we expect students to actively learn about the implications of their own daily
activities through these lectures. This course includes content relating to gender equality.

environmental issue, environmental movement, mechanisms of damage, social dilemma, political ecology, environmental justice, gender, environmental coexistence, environmental mindset

1. Introduction
2. Social history of pollution
3. Social history of environmental issues
4. Research methodology
5. Social dilemma theory
6. Mechanisms of damage: Minamata disease (20th century)
7. Mechanisms of damage: Minamata disease (21st century)
8. Social structure of victimizer-victim relationships
9. Environmental movements in Europe and the US
10. Environmental movements in Asia
11. Environmental movements in Japan
12. Political ecology theory
13. The political ecology of tropical rain forest
14. Platforms related the the environment
15. Summary; class questionnaire

Syllabus (Japanese site only)