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72873-01 - Seminar: Political Economy for the Future: Growth, Inequality and Planetary Boundaries (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Every fall sem. |
| Lecturers | Janina Grabs (janina.grabs@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | How might we reshape our economy to address the sustainable development challenge of universally meeting human needs while respecting planetary boundaries? This course will introduce students to innovative perspectives on the role of governments and societies in shaping markets, focusing in particular on issues related to development, inequality, growth, and the environment. After reviewing main strands of critique to the current economic model, we will examine proposed ways forwards and discuss their desirability and feasibility. We will focus especially on post growth, feminist, and post-developmental perspectives that rethink the goals, participants, and activities of the economy. The focus of this reading-heavy seminar will lie on participatory discussions on the extent to which the authors’ insights apply to current challenges and future directions of economic policy-making. Students will furthermore be asked to give presentations on real-world examples where innovative policy proposals are considered or trialed. |
| Learning objectives | The goal of this course is that students develop a broad understanding of current theories on the economic process and proposals for political reform, and can link those to societal challenges such as environmental degradation, income or gender inequality. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to articulate the main arguments of the examined authors, and critically assess their validity and contribution toward solving today’s socio-economic and ecological challenges by drawing on empirical evidence. |
| Bibliography | TBA in the first session, preliminary reading list includes: - Kallis, G., Paulson, S., D’Alisa, G., & Demaria, F. (2020). The Case for Degrowth. Polity. - Demaria, F., Kothari, A., Salleh, A., Escobar, A., & Acosta, A. (2023). Post-development: From the Critique of Development to a Pluriverse of Alternatives. In The Barcelona School of Ecological Economics and Political Ecology: A Companion in Honour of Joan Martinez-Alier (pp. 59-69). Cham: Springer International Publishing. - Harcourt, W. (2026). The Ethics and Politics of Care: Reshaping Economic Thinking and Practice. Review of Political Economy, 38(1), 150–166. https://doi.org/10.1080/09538259.2023.2241395 - Bidadanure, J. U. (2019). The Political Theory of Universal Basic Income. Annual Review of Political Science, 22(Volume 22, 2019), 481–501. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-050317-070954 |
| Comments | Please note entry requirements, details in section "Admission requirements" (Teilnahmevoraussetzungen). MSD students (both curricula) This is an optional course.The recognition of credit points is possible for the published module or with a learning agreement for the "FASR" module (MSD 2017) or for the "Electives" (MSD 2026). This seminar is offered by the MSD. Prof. Dr. Janina Grabs is head of the Sustainability Research Group, Dep. of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and as of fall semester is chairing the TC MSD. |
| Admission requirements | Limited number of participants (25). Students of the MSD 2017 and MSD 2026 (incl. preparation semester and IJDSD) have a first priority. Students of the listed programs (see list of modules) have a second priority. If you study something different you must do at least a master's degree within the Department of Social Sciences (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences) and may attend the seminar in case of vacancies (these applications have the priority level three). No other students admitted. Content related participation REQUIREMENTS for NON-MSD/IJDSD-students: They must have passed succesfully one of the following lectures (= credit points already acquired) during a former semester: - 11513: Paradigms and Leverage Points for Sustainable Development (former title until spring semester 2025: Sustainability: A new Societal Paradigm?) - 41829: Perspectives of Social Sciences on Sustainability. If you have not passed either of these classes, you must contact the lecturer until the first day of the teaching period, i.e. in fall semester 2026 until 14. September 2026 at the latest to assess if you have sufficient background knowledge to be admitted. |
| Course application | Course enrollment on online services should be completed by the beginning of the teaching period at the latest until Monday, 14. September 2026. Withdrawal possible until Monday of teaching week five. Please note entry requirements. For details see section "admission requirements". |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Wednesday | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
Dates
| Modules |
Module: Complementary Knowledge Social Sciences (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development) Module: Core Competences in Social Sciences (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development (Start of studies before 01.08.2026)) Module: Fields: Governance and Politics (Master's degree program: African Studies) Module: Resources and Sustainability (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources (Start of studies before 01.08.2026)) Module: Sustainable Societies: Inequality, Power, Conflict (Master's degree program: Changing Societies) Module: Topics and Methods in Sustainable Development: Social Sciences (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development) Specialization Module Global Europe: Statehood, Development and Globalization (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Compulsary attendance in presence, required reading, oral presentation, written essay. Details according to information of lecturer. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | University of Basel |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Nachhaltigkeitsforschung |