School of Social and Political Science

Background

I am exploring ways of doing and thinking about environmental political theory (EPT). I argue that the hybridity of this field--operating at the intersection of political and environmental thought--is what makes it highly promising for thinking through the many deep crises of modernity. Methodological hybridity is also what makes EPT difficult and daunting. It requires thinkers to cross disciplinary boundaries beyond the human-focused social sciences and into the ecological and climate sciences, and to accept the sometimes radical implications of this intermingling. Over the course of the dissertation, I try to crystallise a set of characteristics for responsible EPT, not just in terms of research methodology, but also in terms of the theorist's role as pedagogue and activist. I identify Plumwoodian ecofeminism as a good example of getting environmental-political hybridity right, insofar as it is able to both articulate ways of overcoming structural exploitation among people (and is thus animated by a political agenda) while also framing its critique as a fundamental challenge to the hegemonic separation of humans from nature.

Supervisors

Dr Elizabeth Cripps (Politics), Dr Mathias Thaler (Politics), and Dr Matthew Chrisman (Philosophy)

Publications

Garland, G. (2017) 'Economic growth and progress: A paradigmatic conflation', African Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 11 No. 2, February 2018, 77‑95.

Education

Master of applied ethics (MA): Environmental ethics (University of the Witwatersrand)

Master of business administration (MBA) (University of Stellenbosch Business School)

Postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE): History and English literature (University of Cape Town)

BA (Hons): History documentary film-making (University of Cape Town)

BA: History, Film studies (University of Cape Town)

Teaching

Politics and International Relations: Debates and Concepts tutor (University of Edinburgh 2021-22)

Political Thinkers tutor (University of Edinburgh 2020-21)

History of Western Philosophy tutor (University of the Witwatersrand 2019)

Introduction to Ethics tutor (University of the Witwatersrand 2018)

Memberships

Founding member of CRITIQUE Environmental Working Group

Member of Edinburgh University Political Theory Research Group

Awards

Alice Brown Part-Time PhD Scholarship 2020-2026

Mark Leon Award for Best Philosophy Tutor 2019

Director's Award for Best MBA Student 2017

A.W. Mellon Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities 2009-2011