Course Catalogue

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This course will examine the main forms of environmental politics (forms of power structured on at least minimal ecological values) and explain how they differ from, and where they find agreement with, other dominant influential ideologies (structures of mutually-defining concepts that shape worldviews and social practices such as conservatism and liberalism). It provides a foundation in the key concepts and theories and a practical guide to the main forms of environmental political action, and the barriers to substantive, ecologically-sensitive change.

2 hours of lecture/seminar each week. Half the weeks 2 hours of lecture and half the weeks, 1 hour lecture, one hour seminar.

Students must have achieved a D or better in any Level 1 Global Sustainable Development course to be admitted to this class.

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Multiple Choice and short answer Class Test (online or in-person) in week 6 (30%) (ILOs 1-2)

10 minute oral presentation for an academic audience (with appropriate audio-visual aids), plus questions (50%) (ILOs 3-4)

400-word executive summary of presentation for a practitioner/advocacy audience (including amendments prompted by questions during the presentation) (20%) (ILO 4) 

The aims of this course are to:

1. Introduce students to the main concepts of environmental politics (such as ecologism, postmaterialism and  and how they are embodied in political action and organisation.

2. Identify the significant differences and commonalities between distinguishable forms of environmental politics, and rival ideological movements.

3. Assist students in developing their confidence and skills in communicating complex political ideas to diverse audiences, in both oral and written forms.

4. Equip students with the theoretical techniques and conceptual tools to identify, analyse and evaluate different forms of environmental political behaviour.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Identify and describe the core concepts of environmental politics and how these are embodied and employed in political organisations and methods.

2. Distinguish significant differences and commonalities between the rival forms of environmental politics.

3. Explain the obstacles to effective environmental politics and assess proposed solutions in an oral presentation and short written report.

4. Discuss and evaluate the areas of commonality and difference between specifically environmental politics and other political movements based on rival ideologies.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.