Motivation to Teach Social Action:
I’ve been teaching the advanced seminar in environmental sociology for two years. Students are very engaged but feel powerless by the end of the class as we discuss several topics related to the issue of inertia (social inaction) and the weakening of institutions for environmental action.
Course Description:
This advanced seminar examines the multifaceted issue of climate inaction, exploring how perceptions of risk, values, lifestyles, governance models, and organizational cultures influence decision-making processes. The course integrates individual, macro-level, and meso-level theories, such as the information deficit model, ecological modernization, and neo-institutionalism, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of social inaction. Special focus areas include health, migration, and food systems within the context of climate adaptation.
Taught By:
Maria Isabel
Espinoza
Assistant Professor
Sociology Department
School of Social Sciences
Michigan State University
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