RSO-33306 Food Health and Society: an Integrated Socio-political Perspective

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

some social sciences background on health and/or food through course work or equivalent

Contents:

This course looks into the relation between food, health and wellbeing from a sociological and political point of view. It discusses how (un)healthy eating is embedded in social structures and framed through political choices made in various policy domains such as agriculture, health, environment and spatial planning. It addresses food security and the accessibility of (fresh and nutritious) food, which is a socio-political issue in 'developed' as well as 'developing' countries. Its relation to inequalities in income and public spending is widely recognized. More recently attention is given to how 'food systems' directly and indirectly affect citizens' health through their effect on the quality of the living environment in rural as well as urban contexts.
In most countries 'food', 'health' and 'the environment' are dealt with and governed in separate policy domains and institutions. In areas of metropolitan agglomerations, however, there is raising awareness of the interrelation between food, health and environment, resulting in manifold new forms of coordination and cooperation transgressing the traditional boundaries of policy-domains, actors as well as authorities. The emergence of food policy councils and urban food strategies (e.g. Toronto, Bello Horizonte, Dar es Salaam) is a clear indication of this.
Hence, there is an increasing need to study and govern food, health, environment and society from an integrated and territorial point of view.
This course aims to enhance students' understanding of the socio-political aspects that influence the interrelations between food, health, environment and society and that are reflected in traditional as well as novel governance arrangements.

Learning outcomes:

The student should be able to:
- understand and explain how social factors influence (un)healthy eating behaviour;
- critically evaluate the political and policy context of food security and accessibility in 'developed' and 'developing' countries;
- understand and explain the relation between food-systems, health and the environment;
- apply stakeholder- and problem analysis on existing cases of new forms of coordination;
formulate recommendations based on these cases for an integral solution of food and health problems.

Activities:

- three days/week;
- lectures and guest lectures;
- group work during class;
- each week group assignment and feedback in class at the third course-day.

Examination:

Assignments are meant to process the theory and lecture of each week. Assignments are graded as (un)satisfactory. Satisfactory completion of all assignments is mandatory for getting access to the exam. A written exam makes up 100% of the grade.

Literature:

Book to be acquired by students: T. Lang, D. Barling & M. Caraher (2009), Food policy: integrating health, environment and society, Oxford: Oxford University Press; during the course additional scientific articles and other material will be made available through eduweb..