COURSE INFORMATION
Course Title: INTERNATIONAL POLITICS OF ENVIRONMENT
Code Course Type Regular Semester Theory Practice Lab Credits ECTS
PIR 448 B 2 3 0 0 3 7.5
Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) NA
Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: Salih Özcan , Monday 13:30- 16:30 hours
Second Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: NA
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours: NA
Language: English
Compulsory/Elective: Elective
Classroom and Meeting Time: E 210
Course Description: This course examines the interconnections of international politics and environment. It examines contemporary international environmental problems from theoretical and policy perspectives. Furthermore, it links environmental policy to politics, bringing in a wide range of practical real-life examples. This course will examine the context, key actors and issues shaping contemporary global environmental politics as well. Cross cutting themes include challenges of collective action, environmental security and justice.
Course Objectives: The student shall: - have knowledge of the political processes and policy formulation at the interface between national environmental, energy and resource administration as well as within the international context. - understand the rise of environmental issues on the world agenda and to assess the effectiveness of current structures and policies to resolve them. - identify the main national and international actors that have developed platforms of Environmental Politics - analyze the relation between major global activities and their impact on environment. - engage students in productive discussions of how to evaluate and solve environmental problems.
COURSE OUTLINE
Week Topics
1 Introduction to International Politics of Environment
2 Environment as a “Problem” and an “international problem”
3 Degradation of the Biosphere (1): Ozone Depletion and Global Warming/Climate Change
4 Degradation of the Biosphere (2): Deforestation and Energy
5 Theories, Concepts, Proposals
6 Economic Growth & Sustainable Development
7 International Environmental Actors and Institutions: States, International Organizations, INGOs, TNCs
8 Presentation Assignments: Key International Systems and their Environmental Politics (UN, EU, two cases from international NGOs)
9 Presentation Assignments: Key States and their Environmental Politics (United States, Europe, two cases from Third World Countries)
10 International Environmental Law
11 Economy, Trade and Environment
12 Global/International Environmental and Ecological Justice (South-North Division)
13 The Future of International Environmental Politics
14 Discussion Topic: “Sovereignty in World Eco-politics”/ “Climate Change and the Collective Action Problem”
Prerequisite(s): N/A
Textbook: Axelrod, Regina S. & VanDeveer, Stacy D. (Eds.) (2015) The Global Environment: Institutions, Law and Policy, Fourth Edition, CQ Press, Sage. Mitchell, Ronald B. 2010, International Politics and the Environment, Sage Kutting, G. (Ed.) (2011) Global Environmental Politics: Concepts, Theories and Case Studies, Routledge. Chasek, Pamela S., Downie, David L. and Brown, Janet W. (2010) Global Environmental Politics, Fifth Edition, Westview Press. Pacara, E., & Kalemaj, I. (2010). Perpjekjet e Shqiperise per te arritur kriteret mjedisore te BE-se dhe perceptimi publik (Albania's efforts to meet EU environmental criteria and public perception). Instituti i Politikave Mjedisore. Tirana: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Tirana. Mecaj, S. (2017). Politikat Mjedisore në Bashkimin Evropian dhe Ndikimi i Tyre në Vendet në Stabilizim Asociim (Environmental Policies in the European Union and Their Impact in Stabilization and Association Countries). Universiteti I Tiranës, Departamenti i Të Drejtës Publike, Tirane.
Other References: Williams, S., & Marstijepovic, S. (2010). Case Studies on Remediation of Environmental Hot Spots in the Western Balkans. Western Balkans Environmental Program. UNDP Montenegro.
Laboratory Work: N/A
Computer Usage: N/A
Others: No
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
1 At the end of the course, students should be able to learn about the major international environmental issues facing the world today (including overfishing, tropical forests, whaling, climate change, ozone depletion, trade in endangered species, etc.)
2 Demonstrate a sound knowledge and a critical understanding of the key themes and concepts of global environmental politics and their relationship to debates within the discipline of International Relations.
3 Apply those themes and concepts to a case study of contemporary global environmental politics. Communicate their understanding about global environmental politics in a clear and concise way through assignments.
4 To understand how various cultural perspectives, shape individual group, and country orientations toward international environmental issues.
COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES
(Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)
No Program Competencies Cont.
Professional Master in Political Science and International Relations Program
COURSE EVALUATION METHOD
Method Quantity Percentage
Midterm Exam(s)
1
20
Project
1
30
Final Exam
1
50
Total Percent: 100%
ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)
Activities Quantity Duration(Hours) Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours) 16 3 48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) 16 2 32
Mid-terms 1 25 25
Assignments 1 20 20
Final examination 1 35 35
Other 1 27.5 27.5
Total Work Load:
187.5
Total Work Load/25(h):
7.5
ECTS Credit of the Course:
7.5