IP31520 - THE INTERNATIONAL POLITICS OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Module Identifier	IP31520
Module Title	THE INTERNATIONAL POLITICS OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Academic Year	2002/2003
Semester	Intended for use in future years
Next year offered	N/A
Next semester offered	N/A
Course delivery	Lecture	12 Hours 12 x 1 hour
	Seminars / Tutorials	8 Hours 8 x 1 hour
Assessment	Semester Exam	2 Hours	70%
	Semester Assessment	Essay:	30%
	Supplementary Exam	Students may, subject to Faculty approval, have the opportunity to resit this module, normally during the supplementary examination period. For further clarification please contact the Teaching Programme Administrator in the Department of International Politics.

Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of the module you should be able to:

critically evaluate the major environmental discourses
link environmental change with the domestic and international economic, social and political context
evaluate the likelihood of effective international environmental cooperation
understand the role of the state in environmental politics
appreciate the political economy of the major environmental problems

10 ECTS Credits

Brief description

The environment is now on domestic and international political agendas. Because of multiple linkages and ecological interdependence environmental issues are most effectively addressed at international, even global, level. But this brings to the fore the problem of obtaining and guaranteeing international cooperation in a system where states are sovereign. The environment as an international political economy issue is in some respects unique, but in other respects it shares to a greater or lesser degree structural characteristics with the other great issues of welfare and security.

After examining four discourses of politcal ecology the course considers the likelihood of and the obstacles to international cooperation. The module examines the differing experiences and outlook of the "North and the South", as well as a detailed investigation of some of the major current environmental issues such as global climate change, biodiversity loss etc. The course also examines the role and the future of the state in international environmental affairs.

Aims

The aim of the module is to enable you to locate the environment within the corpus of international relations theory and praxis.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
J Dryzek. The Politics of the Earth.
G Porter and J Brown. Global Environmental Politics.