The School of Environment, Enterprise and Development is excited to offer a new course exploring the theme of 'the commons'. Senior undergraduate students and all graduate students are encouraged to take this course. There is no pre-requisite to enroll in this course.
SUSM 675 The Commons Amidst Complexity and Change:
The Theory and Practice of Collective Action
Winter 2016
Course Instructor: Dr. Prateep Kumar Nayak
COURSE OVERVIEW
Individuals, communities, and nations in all regions of the world are experiencing the effects of climate and human induced changes in their physical and social environments. The highest and the most direct impact of these changes are seen in the case of commons upon which local communities depend for their social, cultural and economic needs. Some examples of these 'commons' include:
- fisheries, shellfish beds and coastal spaces
- lagoons
- mangroves
- range lands and forests
- groundwater and freshwater systems
- irrigation systems
- urban spaces etc.
When impacted by a variety of changes, commons not only go through a process of change in their biophysical characteristics but the resulting impacts linger on the social, cultural, political and economic lives (e.g., loss of livelihoods, subsistence, institutions, disempowerment, loss of rights, cultural identity) of the commons-dependent population. In a similar sense we all, as humans, are linked to some form of commons in our daily lives – we either impact the commons or get impacted by it, or experience both. Given this background, sustaining the commons remains an ongoing challenge that requires enhanced understanding and innovative approaches at all levels of society.
The aim of this course is to creatively engage members of the class in furthering our collective understanding and knowledge on commons, and deliberate on innovative approaches though which commons can be sustained.