GV591-7-AU-CO:
Domestic Environmental Politics
2021/22
Government
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 07 October 2021
Friday 17 December 2021
15
07 May 2021
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
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How can the international community effectively address global environmental problems, e.g., the depletion of the ozone layer and climate change? This module offers a comprehensive examination of global environmental politics and facilitates an understanding of how international problem-solving efforts emerge among what kinds of actors, what kind of impact such instruments have, and why state efforts to regulate global environmental issues might fail.
The world community's response to transnational environmental issues has been to build a complex structure of environmental regimes and multilateral agreements. We will examine the underlying theoretical approaches comprehensively, paying particular attention to the design of international environmental regimes, the determinants of states participating in these institutions, and their effectiveness. An additional drawback with regime governance is that it can lead to piece-meal responses and overlapping institutions with little impact on the overall problems posed to the global system.
Building on this general overview, we will contrast the cases of the depletion of the ozone layer and climate change, before concentrating on the consequences of climate change for interstate and intrastate conflict. We then study the nexus of trade and the environment at a global level in trying to answer whether globalization facilitates or worsens the international community's response to global environmental problems.
Finally, we explore the possibilities for enhanced environmental governance and the future of international environmental politics.
To provide students with the main theoretical arguments of international environmental politics, particularly with regard to environmental regimes.
To engage with a wide range of applied empirical material relating global environmental politics.
To present a range of contemporary international environmental issues, which are discussed both from a theoretical point of view and an empirical perspective.
Objectives
By the end of the module, students should:
Be able to critically assess theoretical approaches in international environmental politics, including regime theory.
Possess the skills to carefully assess the empirical evidence for these theoretical approaches.
Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of contemporary issues in international environmental politics.
Be able to express well-informed opinions about contemporary international environmental issues.
By following this module, students will gain the following skills:
Select and read appropriate material that contains required information and data.
Synthesize the obtained information to use it for relevant purposes (e.g., essays, presentations, discussions, etc.).
Organize information clearly and coherently.
Explore complex environmental problems at the global/international level and analyze their main characteristics, determinants, and consequences.
No additional information available.
The module runs over 10 weeks. Each weekly seminar comprises of a 2 hour lecture.
Each session – except for Week 9 through 11 – will start with the lecturer's introduction to the weekly topic followed by students' discussions of the material from the required readings and how they are related to contemporary problems. Weeks 9 through 11 will be dedicated to the students' presentations.
Attendance is compulsory. It is expected that students have read the required readings for a specific week and are prepared to discuss them. In the classes, the most important points raised in the lecture will be discussed in more detail, and we will extend the perspective by looking at broader issues.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Research Design Paper |
|
30% |
| Coursework |
Final Research Paper |
|
70% |
Additional coursework information
a) Participation: Regular attendance and active class participation will influence the quality of the module. Thus, participation constitutes a significant portion of the course grade. Students are expected to read the required readings and come prepared to discuss them in class. If a student misses more than two sessions for whatever reason (unless due to extenuating circumstances), the participation mark will automatically be 0.
b) Research Paper Outline: Students will submit a short outline (3-4 pages) of their research questions and research design for their final research paper. Topics can be selected in consultation with the module supervisor. This outline is due Week 8, on the day of session at 09.45am.
c) Class Presentation: On the first session of the module (Week 2), students will be asked to choose a weekly topic from this syllabus on (see Weekly Readings section below) which they would like to present on. Based on their selected topic, students will be assigned to small groups. Each small group will present on 2 of the selected weekly readings for the chosen topic. All presentations will take place between Week 9 and 11. Each group’s presentation will be 5-10 minutes long, and will (1) expose the summary of the selected readings and (2) propose limitations and concerns with the readings’ theory and/or empirical findings. Powerpoint slides are required, and a handout is highly recommended.
d) Research paper: A final research paper is expected to complete the module (20-30 pages; double spaced; about 6,000 words). Students will write their research paper on the premise of their research paper outline and the feedback they receive on this. The research paper is due the first week of Spring term (Week 16).
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Federica Genovese, email: fgenov@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Federica Genovese
Module Supervisor Dr Federica Genovese fgenov@essex.ac.uk or Module Administrator, Jamie Seakens (govpgquery@essex.ac.uk)
No
Yes
No
Dr Patrick Bayer
University of Glasgow
Lecturer in International Relations
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
Government
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