Societal Perspective on Sustainable Development

Faculty of Business Management and Social Sciences

Version 7.0 of 01/15/2021

22B1399

Societal Perspective on Sustainable Development

• International Management (B.A.)
• Wirtschaftsrecht (Bachelor) (LL.B.)

2

Sustainable Development (SD) has become a widely recognized societal objective. In this course, sustainable development will be analyzed from a societal perspective. In particular, the main challenges of SD, such as climate change and poverty, will be reconstructed as societal conflicts between different interest groups (e.g. rich and poor, people living in different countries or in different generations). Possible ways of arbitrating and of dealing with these conflicts will also be discussed in the context of a globalized world.

1. Basic concepts of sustainable development
   1.1 History and definitions of SD
   1.2 Possible approaches to SD (e.g. weak vs. strong sustainability)
   1.3 Local vs. global ecological limits, ecological footprint, planetary boundaries
2. SD as an ethical objective
   2.1 Ethical foundations of SD (from anthropocentric to holistic)
   2.2 Reconstruction of SD as a concern for comprehensive justice
   2.3 Arbitrating between conflicts of interest
3. Politics of SD
   3.1 SD in local, national and global political spheres
   3.2 Global climate policies, UN Sustainable Development Goals
   3.3 Individual, corporate and political action

Knowledge Broadening
Students have a broad understanding of the concept of sustainable development and its various interpretations. They understand the complexity of SD and the underlying conflicts between different groups.
Knowledge Deepening
Students develop a differentiated understanding of SD challenges.
Instrumental Skills and Competences
Students are able to analyze and interpret societal SD debates and to develop a well-informed and differentiated point of view on such issues.
Communicative Skills and Competences
Students are able to analyze SD conflicts and to formulate a differentiated and well-grounded own position.
Systemic Skills and Competences
Students are able to reconstruct SD discourses as discourses of justice regarding the values, interests and scarce resources at stake.

Lectures, case studies, self-study.

Principles of economics

Hirata, Johannes

Hirata, Johannes

5

Sen, A.K., "?konomie für den Menschen" (2002)

Literatur in Auszügen aus verschiedenen Quellen

• Two-Hour Written Examination
• Homework / Assignment
• Portfolio exam

1 Term

Only Summer Term

English