GV592-6-SP-CO:
International Environmental Politics
2023/24
Government
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
14 June 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
The objective of this module is to provide a better understanding of democratic political and economic processes in Europe. In the first part, we will compare representative democracy with direct democracy instruments and analyse under what circumstances referendums are suitable for making political decisions. As corruption is a perpetual threat for democracies, we will examine what types of corruption are prevalent in Europe, how they are measured, and which accountability mechanisms have proved effective at curbing corrupt behaviour. We will then examine the institutional foundations of welfare-capitalism, analysing how coordinated and liberal capitalism types responded to challenges such as globalisation and deindustrialization. The second part of the module is devoted to studying the power-sharing arrangements in the European Union. In this context, we will examine under what circumstances member states may decide to delegate powers to the EU level or alternatively re-nationalize supranational powers. The module also provides an accessible introduction to research design and methods that political scientists have used to address these topics.
The aims of this module are:
- To provide students with a sound knowledge of contemporary European politics and an understanding of the advantages and limitations of comparative research
- To enable students to become familiarly with important academic debates in democratic theory, corruption, European Union politics, and social & economic policymaking in Europe.
- To encourage students to critically assess the validity of conflicting theoretical claims and arguments on the basis of appropriate empirical evidence.
- To help students hone their analytical and writing skills.
- To enable students to learn how to tailor their writing to different audiences by composing short response papers, a grant application and an essay.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to think about and discuss contemporary European politics and write clearly and logically about this topic.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the linkages between empirical facts and abstract concepts.
- Retrive, synthesise and critcally evaluate information from diverse sources.
- Write effectively for different audiences.
- Revise written work based on feedback.
The module will cover the following topics:
- Week 16: Direct Democracy and Referendums
- Week 17: Corruption in Europe
- Week 18: Varieties of Capitalism and Skill Regimes
- Week 19: The Welfare State and Welfare State Retrenchment
- Week 20: Central Banks
- Week 21: The European Union – politics and crisis management
- Week 22: Disintegration Dynamics in the EU
- Week 23: EU Trade Policy
- Week 24: European responses to COVID-19
- Week 25: Presentations of student draft papers & peer review
The module will be delivered via:
- 2 hour seminar, in person (on campus)
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 |
Participation |
|
5% |
| Coursework |
Essay 1 |
|
30% |
| Coursework |
Presentation |
|
35% |
| Coursework |
Essay 2 |
|
30% |
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
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dr Edward Morgan-Jones
University of Kent
Reader in Comparative Politics
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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