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78111-01 - Field trip: The Resource Nexus: From Ancient Empires to Future Earth – Resources, Conflict, and Global Security (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Marc Frick (marc.frick@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | If we consider global politics today, particularly geopolitics, we see that questions of peace and conflict, and the coexistence or competition between different political and economic systems, have returned to the centre of our attention. The availability and access to key resources is playing an increasingly prominent role in this field. China is restricting exports of rare earths, the United States is considering taking over Greenland, and support for Ukraine in its war against Russia is sometimes being made conditional on access to its resource deposits. Clearly, the creation of a world order in which peaceful coexistence and cooperation can benefit all must take into account the resources needed for societies to succeed, how these resources are distributed on Earth and how they are made available. This geopolitical dimension also affects the question of transforming global economic activity and coexistence towards sustainability and compatibility with planetary boundaries. Even sustainable societies need resources — although these may differ in kind and quality compared to a fossil-fuel-based world, they are still scarce and unevenly distributed around the globe. Therefore, when considering a sustainable future, it is essential to address questions regarding the availability and access to key resources, as well as establishing a global order that organizes this access in a rule-based and peaceful manner. The course The Resource Nexus: From Ancient Empires to Future Earth: Resources, Conflict and Global Security, offered in cooperation between Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, and the University of Basel, addresses the question of what resources we will need in the future and how these can be distributed among societies in the most equitable, peaceful and rule-based manner possible. It also considers the challenges that our societies' hunger for resources poses to the global order. The course approaches these questions by combining perspectives from history, political science and social science sustainability research in an international setting that takes into account the cultural and socio-economic conditions in different regions of Europe from the outset. Remarks: The course will include field excursions both in Basel (11.-13. of March 2026) and Poznań (19.-22. of May 2026). The excursions will be partially funded via the EPICUR-project at University of Basel. A small participation fee of CHF 100 for the excursion to Poznan will be charged to participants. In justified exceptional cases, the participation fee for students may be covered by the university. The number of participants is limited. Applications for the course will be accepted until 15.01.2026. The participation in the virtual Kick-off-Session on 19.02.2026 is mandatory. Funding: This course is supported by the EPICUR project at the University of Basel which supports learning offers that are conducted in collaboration with one or more EPICUR partner universities and contribute to increasing internationalization at the University of Basel. This financial support is made possible by funding from Movetia, the Swiss agency for exchange and mobility. Movetia is financed by the Swiss Federal Council. |
| Learning objectives | Historical Approach: Compare the impact of resource demands on societal development across selected historical and modern societies. Political Science Approach: Analyze contemporary policy responses to resource-related conflicts and cooperation, considering perspectives from different European countries. Sustainability Sciences & Theory of Change Approach: Develop actionable strategies to foster a development towards resilient societies with limited resource dependency and fair value chains. Intercultural Dimension: Reflect on and integrate diverse regional viewpoints regarding resource nexus challenges, using intercultural teamwork to enhance understanding and develop shared solutions. |
| Bibliography | BRAŃKA, T. In search of a new Arctic strategy for the European Union. EU EXTERNAL ACTIONS IN THE CONTESTED GLOBAL ORDER, 175. Ross, C. (2024). Liquid Empire: Water and Power in the Colonial World. In Liquid Empire. Princeton University Press. Faber, M., Manstetten, R., Rudolf, M., Frick, M., & Becker, M. Y. (2024). Sustainable Action in Economy and Society: Orientation for Change. Springer Nature. Jańczak, J. (2021). The European Union–Japan Strategic Partnership in the Contested Global Order. External Relations of the EU in the Context of Economic, Normative and Security Framework. Przegląd strategiczny, 11(14), 59-73. |
| Admission requirements | The number of participants for this course is limited to 10 persons. Please register for the course until 15. January 2026 via mail to marc.frick@unibas.ch. Please attach a one-pager outlining your motivation to take part in the course. |
| Course application | The number of participants for this course is limited to 10 persons. Please register for the course until 15. January 2026 via mail to marc.frick@unibas.ch. Please attach a one-pager outlining your motivation to take part in the course. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Block | See individual dates | ||
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 19.02.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Soziologie, Übungsraum 210 |
| Thursday 05.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Soziologie, Übungsraum 210 |
| Wednesday 11.03.2026 | 09.00-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 212 |
| Wednesday 11.03.2026 | 13.00-17.00 | -- Anfrage zentraler Raum für Lehre-, -- |
| Wednesday 11.03.2026 | 13.00-17.00 | -- Anfrage zentraler Raum für Lehre-, -- |
| Thursday 12.03.2026 | 09.00-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Mehrzweckraum 035 |
| Thursday 12.03.2026 | 13.00-17.00 | -- Anfrage zentraler Raum für Lehre-, -- |
| Thursday 12.03.2026 | 13.00-17.00 | -- Anfrage zentraler Raum für Lehre-, -- |
| Friday 13.03.2026 | 09.00-12.00 | -- Anfrage zentraler Raum für Lehre-, -- |
| Friday 13.03.2026 | 13.00-17.00 | Rosshofgasse (Schnitz), Sitzungsraum S 181 |
| Friday 13.03.2026 | 13.00-17.00 | Rosshofgasse (Schnitz), Sitzungsraum S 184 |
| Thursday 16.04.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Soziologie, Übungsraum 210 |
| Tuesday 19.05.2026 | 09.00-16.00 | Exkursion Poznan, Polen |
| Wednesday 20.05.2026 | 09.00-16.00 | Exkursion Poznan, Polen |
| Thursday 21.05.2026 | 09.00-16.00 | Exkursion Poznan, Polen |
| Friday 22.05.2026 | 09.00-16.00 | Exkursion Poznan, Polen |
| Thursday 28.05.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Soziologie, Übungsraum 210 |
| Modules |
Modul: Ungleichheit, Konflikt, Kultur (Master's degree subject: Sociology) Module: Resources and Sustainability (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources) Specialization Module Global Europe: Environment and Sustainability (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Specialization Module Global Europe: Peace and Conflict Studies (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Will be explained during the course |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,5 |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Soziologie |