ENP-30306 International Environmental Policy

Vak

Studiepunten 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

Some basic knowledge of environmental policy at the national level will facilitate acquiring insight into international environmental policies.

Continuation courses:

Thesis Environmental Policy

Contents:

The course provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of international environmental politics. Students will learn how the international community deals with environmental problems of a transboundary nature. This includes discussion of the historical evolution of international environmental policymaking and diverse conceptual perspectives (or worldviews) on transnational environmental problems and their relationship to economic globalization. We will then analyze the making of international environmental policy in specific issue-areas such as stratospheric ozone depletion, climate change, deforestation, marine pollution and safe use and trade in genetically modified organisms. Dominant theoretical approaches in international relations and political science will be used to explain the making, implementation and effectiveness of international environmental policy in these diverse areas. The emphasis will be on understanding international environmental policy as a contentious area of international economic and political relations. In addition to state-led international environmental policymaking and diplomacy, the course will also cover private transnational environmental governance initiatives, as well as complex links between international environmental and trade regimes. In concluding, the need for reform of the international environmental governance architecture will be analyzed, as will the significance of new trends in international environmental governance, such as governance by transparency.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of the historical evolution of international environmental policy;
- demonstrate understanding of the main challenges facing international environmental policy-making;
- demonstrate understanding of the relations between international environmental policies and economic, trade and security issues;
- analyze the changing role of states and non-state actors in international environmental policymaking;
- analyze the reasons for successful (or unsuccessful) creation and implementation of international environmental policy, and evaluate the effectiveness of international environmental policies;
- analyze the advantages and disadvantages of innovative public-private and private governance arrangements that are emerging to complement state-led international environmental policymaking;
- propose ways in which international environmental policy-making institutions can be reformed.

Activities:

The course consists of the following activities:
- plenary lectures;
- literature reviews;
- an individual paper.

Examination:

The written exam will be based on plenary lectures and readings, which will be 60% of the final mark. The individual paper will be 30% of the final mark. Literature will be 10% of the final mark.

Literature:

Is made available through Eduweb. A course outline can be obtained upon request from the course coordinator.