HSOC 135 The Politics of Food and Agriculture
Cross-listed as PSCI 135, GAFL 135
Offered:Fall 2009
Summers W 3:30-6:30
Academically Based Community Service (ABCS)
A Fox Leadership Program Seminar
This seminar will explore the politics and institutions that have shaped –and continue to shape-- food production, consumption and problems like food insecurity and obesity here in West Philadelphia and around the world. Students will use the readings and their community service experience to analyze the politics of food in many different arenas: from kitchens, farms, schools, and factories to corporate boardrooms, research institutions, children’s television, and international trade. The primary focus will be on American politics; but there will also be opportunities to develop international and comparative perspectives on food and agriculture issues. Academic course work will include weekly readings, class and blackboard participation, and several papers. Service work will include an individual or group project related to your service placement and a final report. Typically the first half of each class will be devoted to a discussion of the readings and the second either to group work and discussion of students’ service projects or to a course speaker.
The goals of this course are to help students develop an understanding of politics through a study of changes over time in how societies produce, distribute/ market and consume food with a special focus on American politics and food systems, and to use the community service component of the course to give students “hands-on” experience with organizing efforts and institutions related to the politics of food and to develop skills and knowledge important to effective citizenship.
