The Politics of Food and Agriculture
PSCI/HSOC 135-301 ABCS and Fox Leadership Program Seminar

Professor: Mary Summers
email:

Spring 2005

From THE JUNGLE to FAST FOOD NATION, this academically based community service seminar will explore the politics that have shaped food production, consumption and problems like food insecurity and obesity here in West Philadelphia and around the world. Students will be encouraged to think broadly about how people define their interests, ideas, goals and strategies in the many different arenas and institutions that shape the politics of food: farms, factories, families, markets, marketing, migration, legislatures, bureaucracies, research and health care institutions, and social movements. The primary focus will be on the American politics and institutions that have shaped –and resisted-- the industrialization of food and agriculture; but there will also be opportunities for students to develop international and comparative perspectives on these issues. In the course of the semester students will develop their own research and writing projects related to some aspect of the politics of food and agriculture.

Political Science 135: The Politics of Food and Agriculture

Faculty:Mary Summers
Email:

Spring 2006

From THE JUNGLE to FAST FOOD NATION, this academically based community service seminar will explore the politics that have shaped food production, consumption and problems like food insecurity and obesity here in West Philadelphia and around the world. Students will be encouraged to think broadly about how people define their interests, ideas, goals and strategies in the many different arenas and institutions that shape the politics of food: farms, factories, families, markets, marketing, migration, legislatures, bureaucracies, research and health care institutions, and social movements. The primary focus will be on the American politics and institutions that have shaped –and resisted-- the industrialization of food and agriculture; but there will also be opportunities for students to develop international and comparative perspectives on these issues. In the course of the semester students will develop their own research and writing projects related to some aspect of the politics of food and agriculture.

Political Science 198: The Politics of Food and Agriculture

Faculty:Mary Summers
Email:

Fall 2003

From THE JUNGLE to FAST FOOD NATION, this academically based community service seminar will explore the politics that have shaped food production, consumption and problems like food insecurity and obesity here in West Philadelphia and around the world. Students will be encouraged to think broadly about how people define their interests, ideas, goals and strategies in the many different arenas and institutions that shape the politics of food: markets, kitchens, farms, factories, schools, churches, cities, research institutions, social movements, legislatures, bureaucracies, and trade. Case studies of leaders who have made a difference in the politics of food will include guest speakers who work on food related issues. The primary focus will be on the American politics and institutions that have shaped –and resisted-- the industrialization of food and agriculture; but there will also be opportunities for students to develop international and comparative perspectives on these issues.