Module SGIA3851: Environmental Politics

Department: Government and International Affairs

SGIA3851: Environmental Politics

Prerequisites

• Any Level 2 SGIA module

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of the major concepts, theories, actors, and debates in the field of environmental politics;
• To enable students to critically analyse and constructively engage with issues, policies, and debates in environmental politics;
• Encourage students to foster a deep understanding of the normative dimensions inherent in environmental politics.

Content

• This module adopts a comprehensive understanding of environmental politics, with an emphasis on perspectives from comparative politics. The content may vary from one year to another, but it will indicatively include:
• Multi-level environmental governance;
• Environmental movements and activism;
• Green parties and party competition;
• Public opinion and behaviour in environmental politics;
• Environmental justice and rights;
• Energy and natural resource politics.

Learning Outcomes

• Through the module students will gain an understanding of:
• Concepts and theories in environmental politics;
• Actors in environmental governance;
• Theoretical and empirical debates in the academic literature;
• Sources of data and methods of analysis in academic research in the field of environmental politics.

• Students will also develop some subject specific skills, such as:
• Identify the academic literature on environmental politics;
• Critically assess the major concepts, theories, actors, and debates in the literature;
• Construct evidence-based arguments to engage with issues and debates in environmental politics;
• Cultivate a profound comprehension of the normative aspects inherent in environmental politics.

• Students will also develop some important key skills, suitable for underpinning study at this and subsequent levels, such as:
• Independent learning within a defined framework of study at an advanced level;
• Independent thought in analysing and critiquing existing scholarship on the subject area and in evaluating its contribution;
• Independent thinking informed by the academic debate at an advanced level;
• Effective oral and written communication of research and policy applications;
• Delivering and integrating peer feedback;
• Advanced essay-writing skills and the ability to work to a deadline.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching and learning are through a series of one-hour lectures, associated series of two-hour seminars, and a final three-hour workshop.
• The lectures provide formal instruction and draw attention to scholarship on environmental politics. The seminars allow students to engage in in-depth exploration of scholarly debates in this scholarship. In the workshop, students present their projects and benefit from feedback, including that from their peers.
• The summative assessment for this module has two components. Firstly, students write a 2,000-word essay that draws upon module readings to address predetermined essay questions. Secondly, students write a 3,000-word case study centred on environmental issues. They will select a specific environmental issue or policy and employ module knowledge and skills to various aspects of the political dynamics and policy outcomes.
• Formative assessment also comes in two forms. First, the instructor assesses a 1,000-word essay drawing on module content to answer a pre-selected question. Second, students review a 1,000-word case study from their peers, critiquing and providing feedback to each other on their work.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

In the first formative assessment, the instructor provides feedback on 1,000-word essays drawing on module content to answer a pre-selected question. In the second, students assess a 1,000-word case study from their peers.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University