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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 0.1667
    Points 20 points
    Teaching period 1st Non standard period (2 November 2026 - 11 December 2026) (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,627.83
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Restriction
    GEOG 563
    Notes
    May not be credited together with GEOG465 passed in 2016 or 2017.
    Contact

    geography@otago.ac.nz

    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
    • 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)

    Textbooks

    No textbook is required.

    Readings for class will be posted on Blackboard.

    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.

    Timetable

    1st Non standard period (2 November 2026 - 11 December 2026)

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Blackboard

    Workshop

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    A1 Tuesday 11:00-12:50 45-50
    Thursday 11:00-12:50 45-50
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