From the climate crisis to mass extinction and marine plastic pollution : environmental issues have become increasingly urgent and salient, and today are at the top of international political agendas. But how has the environment gained so much attention ? Does this apply to all environmental issues ? Why do we need international responses to most environmental problems, and how effective are they ? Who governs the environment, and how ?
This course introduces students to global environmental politics. We first learn about the history of international environmental politics, and then zoom in on different approaches, actors, and aspects of environmental politics. While in-class discussions will focus on climate change, students will work in groups to apply the concepts and approaches discussed in class to specific environmental problems, such as biodiversity loss, marine plastic pollution or deforestation and desertification.
This course is a partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine Campus. All students have access to material from Sciences Po and UWI. Additionally, some students will be able to do their coursework with peers from UWI.
The course takes place on Monday, 5-6.30 pm, on Zoom. Regular attendance and active participation, as well as preparation (by reading the required chapters for each session) are expected.
Autumn 2021-2022
Assessment includes two elements:
First, students will work in groups to explore and examine a specific environmental issue area beyond climate change. (A tentative and incomplete list of environmental issues that can be the focus of the group work is attached at the end of this syllabus.) Students will work in groups of six, and apply concepts such as regime formation or effectiveness, or examine different actors and their role, in that particular issue area, to develop a comprehensive presentation of the issue area over the course of the semester. At the end, each group will have the choice of presenting the results of their work in written format (a Wikipedia entry) or as a short video clip. Group work will count 50% of the final mark.
Second, there will be a take-home exam towards the end of the semester. Students will have a limited amount of time to answer questions on the course content. The exam will be individual, and count 50% of the final mark.
Pamela S. Chasek, David L. Downie, 2020. Global Environmental Politics. Routledge.