Environmental issues have become central matters of public concern and political contention. In this module we shall consider explanations for the rise and social distribution of environmental concern as well as the forms of organisation that have been adopted to address environmental questions, including the emergence of global environmental issues and the responses to them. The development of environmental protest, environmental movements and Green parties are central concerns, but we shall also consider the 'greening' of established political parties and political agenda. Is it realistic to expect the development of a global environmental movement adequate to the task of tackling global environmental problems. The approach is broadly comparative and examples will be taken from Europe (east and west), North America, Australasia and south-east Asia.
Total contact hours: 22
Private study hours: 128
Total study hours: 150
The module is an optional module for SSPSSR Canterbury bachelor degree courses.
Also available as an elective/wild module for other courses including courses in the School of Anthropology and Conservation, Environmental Social Science, Human Geography.
Main assessment methods
Coursework - Essay 1 (2000 words) - 50%
Coursework - Essay 2 (2000 words) - 50%
Reassessment methods
100% coursework
Connelly J & Smith G (2012) Politics and the Environment: From Theory to Practice (3rd edition). Routledge, New York
Doyle T (2005) Environmental Movements in Majority and Minority Worlds: A Global Perspective. Rutgers UP, New York
Morin J, Orsini A, Jinnah S (2020) Global Environmental Politics. Oxford
Newell P (2020) Global Green Politics. Cambridge
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of the varieties of political action concerned with the environment;
2. Critically evaluate the development of environmental protest and environmental movements, and of the changing character of environmental movement organisations
3. Account for the emergence and development of Green institutionalism;
4. Understand political responses to global environmental issues.
5. Critically evaluate the various means by which political ideas about the environment have been translated into political action.
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate the skills to communicate effectively using a variety of methods to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
2. Demonstrate the ability to synthesis items of knowledge from different sources and critically assess evidence in relation to competing explanations.
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