Postgraduate Course: Global Environmental Politics (PGSP11299)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course examines the key actors and political dynamics shaping global environmental politics. Environmental challenges are profoundly political and involve issues of power, sovereignty, justice and political action. The global dimension of environmental issues pose distinctive and powerful challenges. Who are the key actors shaping global environmental politics? What are the main challenges and why do they take the form they do? What makes agreement so difficult to achieve? In this course students will draw on scholarship from environmental politics and international relations to help understand the distinctive challenges and dynamics of global environmental politics. |
| Course description |
This course will examine the context, key actors and issues shaping contemporary global environmental politics. Cross cutting themes include challenges of collective action, environmental security and justice
PART I: CONTEXT
Week 1
Introduction: The Environmental Politics Context
What makes environmental politics distinctive? Is there an 'environmental crisis'?
Week 2: The International Politics context
Sovereignty, security, justice
PART II: ACTORS
Week 3
States and governments
Week 4
Non-governmental organisations and actors;
Week 5
Business actors
Week 6
Scientific Experts
Week 7
International Organisations and Regimes
PART III: ISSUES
Week 8
Sustainable development/ (including North-South relations)
Week 9
Climate change 1
Week 10
Climate change 2
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 23 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
1. Policy Report : 3000 - 3500 words (75%)
Students will choose from a list of global agreements (convention, accord or protocol, etc.) on an international environmental issues (including climate change, biodiversity, or sustainable development) . The reports will include a brief overview, a substantive analysis explaining why the agreement took the form it did, and an evaluation of its impact or prospects.
2. Seminar performance (25%)
Seminar performance will comprise: seminar attendance and participation; weekly reading summaries, individual and group presentations. These will be explained fully to the students in week 1 and monitored by the convenor throughout. Student will receive a (non-binding) mid-term seminar mark and indication of their seminar strengths and weaknesses. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Develop a critical understanding of the main areas of study, including key concepts, actors and dynamics characterizing global environmental politics
- Engage critically with the work of major environmental politics and international relations scholars, and evaluate their arguments in the light of the practical dilemmas posed by global environmental challenges;
- Assess competing claims and make informed judgments about current complex issues in global environmental politics;
- Develop their ability to present - in written and verbal form -- coherent, balanced arguments surrounding contemporary global environmental issues, actors and dynamics;
- Use a range of research skills to plan and execute a significant project of research on a major global environmental issue.
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Reading List
Adger, N and Jordan, A (eds) (2009) Governing Sustainability (Cambridge)
Axelrod, R. Downie, D and Vig, N. (eds.) (2005) The Global Environment. (CQ Press)
Carter, N. (2007) Politics of the Environment (Cambridge)
Held, D et al (ed.) (2011) The Governance of Climate Change (Polity) |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Special Arrangements |
Resource Implications :
Only limited new library resources would be required. But administrative support and flexibility would be needed, especially as the course involves students from multiple programmes.
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Elizabeth Bomberg
Tel: (0131 6)50 4248
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Gillian Macdonald
Tel: (0131 6)51 3244
Email: |
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