From Sustainability to the Anthropocene : Reflections on a Pedagogy of Tourism Research for Planetary Attachment

Though tourism research has become more value-laden in its scholarship and pedagogy, there is still a risk that tourism higher educationcurricula (re)produce uncritical views of society and sustainability.I argue that research methodology courses and assignments basedon data collection can legitimize the use of sustainable tourism solutions based in generalizations and abstractions, rather than encouragethe dialogue and reflectivity needed for major change in times of crisis.They also risk promoting a self-serving agenda where researchers (re)produce their success in the knowledge economy. In light of thelimitations of the sustainability concept in time of planetary crisis,I look into the possibilities of a tourism research pedagogy in theAnthropocene by uncovering arguments for plurality and deliberationin knowledge production. Social scientists need to address questionsof ethics in times of crisis. Conjointly, the Anthropocene highlights ourplanetary attachment, where human responsibility and social actionare imminent