POL30520 Environmental Politics and Policy

Academic Year 2019/2020

Over the last decade, environmental problems, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, or depletion of natural resources have gained more and more attention from policymakers, academics, and citizens alike. Common to all these problems is that they require shifts in values, policies, and different approaches to economic and public policy.

The module attempts to identify answers to these questions: How do we resolve environmental disputes at a national or sub-national level? Why do some countries perform better from an environmental perspective? What kind of global environmental regimes are effective, and why? Can we change the fossil fuel basis of modern economies, and still provide jobs and public services? Is the ‘green state’ a feasible political idea?

In this course, students will study the patterns of environmental policy-making from an inter-disciplinary perspective incorporating comparative methods, environmental policy as resource management, environmental ethics, and the emerging field of green political economy in the context of Problem-Based Learning (PBL).

All these topics are rooted in the most recent literature and, where applicable, linked to current policy debates in Ireland. The course will conclude with a theoretical inquiry into the characteristics and nature of the ‘green state’: under what conditions is development compatible with environmental protection? Are there any examples of green states to study? What can other states learn from them?

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

This module utilises a mix of methodological approaches. I will engage students by enquiring into environmental themes such as water, climate and deforestation so that scientific and policy-relevant information can be integrated into new theoretical conceptions of the environmental state. This approach will engage students in reflecting on environmental policy where it cuts across pre-conceived constructions of state and political policy preferences.

The learning objectives for this course are:
1. To impart skills in students so they understand global environmental problems from political perspectives in terms of the role of norms, institutions and interests at the national and international level.

2. Students will seek out, select and interpret relevant empirical information in the context of problem solving and problem pressure across a range of topical environmental problems, both local and transboundary.

3. This module will engage students in a critical analysis of environmental values in the context of protest and opposition, and how to reflexively engage with epistemic as well as civil society stakeholders in deliberative policy assessments.

Students will learn approaches to environmental problem solving using case studies and group projects. Each week students will be asked to present a project on a particular environmental theme or case, as well as selected readings.

The course will also introduce students to the analytical and informational skills required in policy analysis, and to methods of studying policy choice and implementation. They will learn about the key ingredients for successful environmental policy at the national and transnational levels, as well as methods of analysing policy failure.

Indicative Module Content:

This module introduces some of the main themes in,and approaches to studying environmental politics and policy. The module begins with an overview of the main global ecological challenges, and climate change in particular, and then moves thematically through a series of topics starting with the international arena for global environmental politics including global governance, trade and globalisation, and non-state actors. Then shifting to the national and cross-sectoral level, the module will cover green politics, environmental policy instruments, climate and ecological justice, feminism and social ecology.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Autonomous Student Learning

100
Total

124
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module is structured to be as interactive as possible. The Tuesday slot will be in a lecture format, and on Thursdays the class will be divided into groups where that week's topic will be discussed. Each group shall have a different journal article to read, and they will be invited to share their reaction to that article with the rest of the class. In addition, the students will be put into separate groups for the purpose of a country-based profile as a group project. Please note that participation in the group project is compulsory and no alternative assignment is available should students choose not to participate.

The assessment is broken into 3 components: an essay, a group project, and the exam. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: Continous Assessment Unspecified n/a Graded No

50
Examination: 2 hours exam 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Graded No

50

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Sadhbh O'Neill Lecturer / Co-Lecturer