PIR-40106 - Dimensions of Environmental Politics
Coordinator: Brian Doherty Room: CBB2.028 Tel: +44 1782 7 34176
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

This module aims to provide students with an overview of key concepts, debates, processes and discourses in relation to the political dynamics of 'the environment'. It aims to be a broad introduction to the main facets of environmental politics and international relations. It covers a substantial amount of ground in a relatively short amount of time and therefore provides breadth rather than depth. The aim is that students will gain a good general understanding across the field, which will prepare them to specialise in greater depth in one or more areas in other optional modules and their dissertation.
Students will explore the following three key questions in environmental politics:
- How did 'the environment' come to be seen as a political question?
- How have political institutions responded to what have been called environmental problems?
- What are the challenges such problems individually or collectively pose for existing political structures, institutions, and practices, and the theoretical presumptions underlying them?
Students will also have the opportunity to develop their research and communication skills by participating in weekly discussions and debates.

Aims
The module aims to provide students with an overview of key concepts, debates, processes and discourses in relation to the political dynamics of $ùthe environment&©. It aims to be a broad introduction to the main facets of environmental politics and covers a substantial amount of ground in a relatively short amount of time. It therefore provides breadth rather than depth. The aim is that students will gain a good general understanding across the field, which will prepare them to specialise in greater depth in one or more areas in other optional courses and their dissertation.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/pir-40106/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

Analyse the various aspects of the politicisation of $ùthe environment&© and how a range of specific issues reached the environmental policy agenda
will be achieved by assessments: 1
Critically evaluate how political institutions at various levels responded to what have been called environmental problems will be achieved by assessments: 1
Recognise the variety of discourses structuring political and policy debates in relation to environmental problems and develop a sophisticated critique of these discourses
will be achieved by assessments: 1
1

Study hours

20 hours: contact time in ten two-hour seminars
80 hours: seminar preparation
50 hours: independent research, reflection and writing

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Essay weighted 100%
4000 word essay
Students will research and write a journal-length (4,000-word max.) essay on a topic relevant to the module. Essay questions will be provided, but students may also propose their own topic. The essay should develop an in depth understanding of one or more of the academic debates in environmental politics and apply these debates to a specific environmental issue, problem or question. The essay must also be introduced by a 300 word abstract and 5 key words.