Entry requirements

60 credits in the social sciences

Learning outcomes

Having successfully completed the course, students should be able to:

• Define the key characteristics of extractivism, broadly understood;
• Have a good understanding of the historical trajectory of the phenomenon of extractivism;
• Identify the most consequential historical and contemporary effects of extractivism(s) and the kind of resistance they have engendered, paying particular attention here to gender and indigeneity;
• Convincingly defend own position in ongoing debates on whether extractivism is a central feature of contemporary capitalism;
• Critically assess debates on historical and contemporary forms of extractivism through synthesising academic materials from different sources;
• Demonstrate appropriate research, cognitive and communicative skills, including identifying, organising and using arguments, data, and evidence from a variety of sources; understanding complex concepts and theories; exercising critical judgement and problem-solving skills; making effective oral and written presentations;
• Develop a better understanding of, and deepen the capacity for, independent learning.

Content

This course explores the historical shift from extraction - the process of relying on nature for the sustenance of human life - to extractivism, a set of practices premised on capital accumulation and power inequalities. In addition to the historical manifestations of the logic of extractivism, the most visible forms of which are the appropriation, depletion, and destruction of natural resources (e.g. oil, land, water, minerals, forests etc.), we also observe more contemporary forms of extractivism - neo-extractivism(s) - whose reach extends to intangible resources and social wealth (e.g. digital extractivism/platforms, and financialisation).

We discuss whether extractivism and its contemporary forms is limited to natural and other tangible resources, or whether it can convincingly be seen as a central feature of capitalism currently and, according to some, as a way of organising life. The discontents of extractivism(s) we explore here are of two types: (1) main consequences, such as depletion, environmental destruction, inequality, wealth drain etc.; and (2) main forms of resistance against them, paying particular attention to gender and indigeneity. 

Instruction

The teaching consists of lectures and seminars. The language of instruction is English.

Assessment

Assessment will be based on a written assignment, a group poster, and on active participation in seminars.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.