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Overview

Exploration of social and environmental (in)justice. Analysis of how justice affects people differently in different places, in relation to different issues.

How do we determine what is just in a complicated world when ’truth’ is so easily manipulated, and what is just for some might not be just for others. Increasingly justice is pitched against how much it costs, not what is right or how it relates to the environment or future generations, or an understanding of long terms sustainability (broadly conceived). Can justice be conceived of in non-human terms? What is a just response to injustice? In this course we will explore some of these issues, and how some thinkers have sought to address them.

About this paper

Paper title Geographies of Justice
Subject Geography
EFTS 0.2500
Points 30 points
Teaching period 1st Non standard period (2 November 2026 - 29 January 2027) (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $2,867.00
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Restriction
GEOG 463
Notes
May not be credited together with GEOG465 passed in 2016 or 2017.
Teaching staff

Course Co-Ordinator: Dr Mel Winter
Contributing Lecturer: Prof Sophie Bond

Paper Structure

  • Introduction: What is Justice?
  • Part 1: A focus on issues of social justice
  • Part 2: A focus on issues of justice and nature
  • Part 3: Independent research project
  • Conclusion: Reflection

Teaching Arrangements

The paper will be delivered in a non-standard period in the weeks from 2nd November to 11th December. The paper takes a collaborative learning approach and will involve a mix of independent research, online learning and discussion board exercises along with specified class time:

  • Tuesday 2 hour seminar 11am to 1pm (this seminar can be undertaken in-person or completed by the end of the day in the student’s own time, in preparation for Thursday’s seminar)
  • Thursday 2 hour seminar 11am to 1pm (compulsory, in hybrid form via zoom or in-person)

GEOG 563 includes an independent research project that is to be completed and submitted by the end of January 2027. One in class workshop will be held in January on Tuesday 19th to support your progress on completing this project. Attendance is compulsory, but can be by zoom.

Overview

Exploration of social and environmental (in)justice. Analysis of how justice affects people differently in different places, in relation to different issues.

How do we determine what is just? What is just for some might not be just for others. Justice is fundamentally a human centered or anthropocentric concept - can justice be conceived of in non-human terms? What is a just response to injustice? In this course we will explore some of these issues, in the context of broader debates in critical geography.

About this paper

Paper title Geographies of Justice
Subject Geography
EFTS 0.2500
Points 30 points
Teaching period Not offered in 2027 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Restriction
GEOG 463
Notes
May not be credited together with GEOG465 passed in 2016 or 2017.
Contact

geography@otago.ac.nz

Teaching staff

Course Co-ordinator: Dr Christina Ergler

Paper Structure

This paper is organised into two main parts following a one week introduction. The final week concludes the course:

  • Introduction: What is justice?
  • Part I: Justice and Quality of Life
  • Part II: Justice and Responsibilities
  • Conclusion: Reflection
Teaching Arrangements

One 3-hour lecture per week.

Textbooks

No textbook is required.

Readings for class will be posted on Aoroa.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Global perspective, Communication, Cultural understanding, Environmental literacy, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course you will be able to:

  • Understand key debates in relation to geographies of justice.
  • Apply theoretical concepts of justice to real world injustices and communicate these ideas effectively to different audiences for different purposes.
  • Evaluate contemporary issues and identify the complexities of intersecting in/justices for different groups in society.
  • Evaluate how groups seek to address injustice and situate these approaches within theoretical understandings of contemporary global and local level politics and policy frameworks.
Assessment details

Assessment is 100% internally assessed.

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