CRP 1109 - FWS: Cities and Regions

The politics of the environment permeate American life.  They involve issues ranging from very local concerns (e.g., protection of individual water supply sources or potential development of highly valued open space) to the broadest possible national and international concerns (e.g., protection of the country’s national parks, air pollution controls, and strategies for confronting global warming).  This course examines our collective discussions of environmental issues: e.g., what groups wish to accomplish (or prevent) regarding the environment, what interests motivate those widely varying groups, what tactics/strategies those groups utilize for influencing decision-makers, and what factors most significantly shape decision-makers’ specific choices about protecting or harming the environment.  Readings, class discussions, and writing assignments will deal with both historic and current environmental controversies.

Spring 2019 Topic: Anatomy of the City

This seminar dissects the inner workings of the city, exploring the discourses and politics of infrastructure and municipal service provision, using domestic and international cases. The course begins with an introductory overview of topics, such as mobility, water, waste, power, and other technologies of the built environment, but offers a critical lens for examining and expanding the concept of infrastructure, as well as the role of planners, builders, city governments and civil society in shaping it. The course will also deal with examples of innovation, conflict, and resource scarcity i.e. “thirsty cities”.  Through discussion, short essays, and a final paper, students will have an opportunity to present their own questions and analyses on a topic of their choosing related to course themes.