Postgraduate Course: Global Environment: Key Issues (PGSP11358)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Postgrad (School of Social and Political Studies) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course would give students a broad-based introduction to the political, normative and social challenges of global environmental change. It would cover core concepts and debates in social science and law, engaging students with key questions from across the disciplines. What does climate change mean for state sovereignty? Do we have environmental human rights? How has the relationship evolved between society and the natural world? What does sustainable development really mean? What is 'global' environmental law? To what extent is environmental science constructed by social interests? |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: 22 |
|
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
16/09/2013 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
|
| Additional Notes |
|
| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Students would:
1. Acquire extensive, critical and detailed knowledge of fundamental concepts in social and political science, as they apply to current environmental debates;
2. Engage critically with central questions and key thinkers in an ongoing academic and political debate.
3. Hone skills in assessing and developing rigorous theoretical arguments.
4. Further develop an ability to present - (in written and verbal form), coherent, balanced arguments surrounding contemporary global environmental issues
5. Acquire genuinely interdisciplinary insight into the multi-faceted political challenge of achieving global sustainability.
6. Exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in the preparation of research and coursework. |
Assessment Information
| Assessment would be by two coursework assignments: one of 1500-2000 words (45%) due mid-semester to allow time for feedback; and one of 2000-2500 words (55%) due the end of semester |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Course outline:
Introduction (EB)
Week 1: Global Environment and Social Science
Stresses the profoundly political and social dimension of global environmental challenges; explains the link to issues of power, sovereignty, justice, equality and political action; introduces students to key concepts and themes.
Indicative reading:
Clapp, J. and Dauvergne, P. (2011) Paths to a Green World. Chap 1 (Peril or Prosperity?)
Politics and Sustainability (EB)
Week 2: Global Environmental Politics: Context
Distinctive challenges posed by global environmental issues, and where they belong in debates on sovereignty and security. Themes illustrated with key environmental issues (climate, biodiversity).
Indicative reading:
Gabriela Kütting (ed), Global Environmental Politics. Concepts, Theories and Case Studies. (Routledge 2011)
Jennifer Clapp and Peter Dauvergne, Paths to a Green World. The Political Economy of the Global Environment, 2nd ed.( MIT, 2011).
Week 3: Global Environmental Politics: Actors
Key actors in global environmental politics, including states international organisations, business, NGOs, science and the media. Themes illustrated with key environmental issues (climate, biodiversity).
Indicative reading: [As for Week 2]
Justice and the Environment (EC)
Week 4: Human rights and the environment
Climate change as a human rights violation. The case for and against specifically environmental human rights? Do we have an interest in protecting the natural world, over and above what it contributes to our other fundamental interests?
Indicative reading:
Caney, S. (2005). "Climate Change, Human Rights, and Moral Thresholds". In: Human Rights and Climate Change, ed. S. Humphreys. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Nickel, J. (1993) "The Human Right to a Safe Environment: Philosophical Perspectives on Its Scope and Justification", Yale Journal of International Law, 18: 281-95
Week 5: Justice and the burdens of climate change
What would be a fair distribution of the costs of climate change mitigation, adaptation, and compensation? Explaining and comparing polluter pays, ability to pay, and beneficiary pays approaches.
Indicative reading:
Caney, Simon. (2005) "Cosmopolitan Justice, Responsibility, and Global Climate Change." Leiden Journal of International Law 18: 747-75.
Shue, Henry. (1999) "Global Environmental and International Equality." International Affairs 75 (3): 531-45.
Environmental Sociology (JW or colleague)
Week 6: Nature and society
The relationship between nature and human societies: the industrial revolution and emergence of modern dualistic understanding of society and nature.
Indicative reading:
Bell, M. (2008) An Invitation to Environmental Sociology Los Angeles: Pine Forge/Sage, third edition.
Yearley, S. (2005) 'The "end" or the "humanization" of nature?' Organization and Environment 18: 198-201
Week 7: Nature and exploitation
The concept of 'natural environment' as a resource for exploitation by humans, and scientific interventions in, and transformations of, 'nature'.
Indicative reading:
Yearley, S. (2008) 'Nature and the Environment in Science and Technology Studies', in Edward Hackett et al. (eds), The Handbook of Science and Technology Studies Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 921-947.
Yearley, S (2009) 'Sociology and climate change after Kyoto: what roles for social science in understanding climate change?' Current Sociology 57: 389-405.
Sustainable development (EB)
Week 8: Sustainable Development
Varying interpretations and meaning of this contested concept. Overview of its key dimensions and development at the international level, including role of United Nations and debates between developed and developing worlds
Indicative reading:
Adger, N and Jordan, A (eds) (2009) Governing Sustainability
Baker, S. (2006) Sustainable Development
Environmental Law (EM)
Week 9: The role of law in environmental sustainability
Legal tools and approaches to environmental protection; the evolution of international environmental law; and the emergence of 'global' environmental law
Indicative readings:
Gunningham. 'Environment Law: Regulation and Governance: Shifting Architectures' (2009) 21 Journal of Environmental Law 179
Catherine Redgwell, 'International Environmental Law', in M. Evans, ed., International Law (OUP, 2006) 657-88
Science and Technology (LD)
Week 10: Environmental Science and Technology
Introduction to ideas and methods from the sociology of science and technology that can help us to understand and analyse various interest groups involved in environmental situations. Focuses in particular on scientific knowledge and technology and how they are constructed by social interests and, in turn, contribute to wider social and political discussions of environmental issues.
Indicative readings:
Lorimer, J. (2008) 'Counting Corncrakes: the affective science of the UK Corncrake Census' Social Studies of Science 38.3: pp. 377¿405.
Bonneuil and Joly. (2008) 'Disentrenching Experiment: the construction of GM-crop field trials as a social problem' Science, Technology and Human Values 33.2: pp. 201¿229.
|
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Elizabeth Bomberg
Tel: (0131 6)50 4248
Email: e.bomberg@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Gillian Macdonald
Tel: (0131 6)51 3244
Email: gillian.macdonald@ed.ac.uk |
|
© Copyright 2013 The University of Edinburgh - 13 January 2014 4:56 am
|
University Homepage