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Environmental Institutions and Policies in the International Context

Code: 102814 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2501915 Environmental Sciences OT 4

Contact

Name:
Júlia Miralles De Imperial Pujol
Email:
julia.mirallesdeimperial@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

It is an introductory subject since it is the first of the subject "Political Science" offered in
the Environmental Sciences Degree. Therefore, no prior academic requirements can be considered for yours
Tracking. However, the habit of reading news in the written or digital press is considered favorable
related to politics and Administration and a participatory political culture on the part of students. For
bibliographic requirements, the student must also have reading skills in the English language. For another
on the other hand, the continuous assessment - with tutorials and seminars - of this subject, makes it essential
presence in most of its sessions.


Objectives and Contextualisation

We will start from the premise that the Public Administration is not the only, or even the main, political actor in the elaboration of policies
environmental and the promotion of sustainable development. In this sense, it seems much more appropriate to speak
of environmental governance, understood as that network of political actors (public and private) and interactions between
these actors, which allows decisions to be made that affect environmental policies and development
sustainable
The introductory and very synthetic nature of this subject limits the scope, but not the transcendence
of their goals. For this, a strategic approach is needed in the design of its contents: it is not
will try both to deepen technical or descriptive aspects of the subject (Political Science/Science of
the Administration) how to prepare the student for a political understanding of environmental problems and the
sustainability The collective and conflictual (political) nature of environmental problems requires an approach
that is facilitative and oriented towards transformation. In this sense, we have considered it appropriate to give relevance to
concepts such as "environmental governance" or "transition towards sustainability" and make them backbones of
contents of this subject. These concepts cannot fit into a conventional syllabus of
Political Science or Administrative Science and, therefore, are of little use for this subject, the
following manuals or taking theoretical exams. This, as we will see in "Methodology", also reflected in
the teaching method.
The study and understanding of governance processes that favor the transition to sustainability is, in
definitive, the main objective of this subject.
In a more explicit and concrete way we can list the objectives that derive from it:
Understand and value the political nature of environmental problems and conflicts; from
sustainable development as a political, economic, socialand cultural commitment to the future.
Identify and study the main political actors, their resources and instruments in the management of the
environmental and sustainability problems.
Understand the concept of "environmental governance" in order to favor processes of "transition towards the
sustainability".
Acquire the necessary skills and abilities in order to know how to apply them to specific cases (areas
certain territorial and sectoral) the concepts of "environmental governance" and "transition towards the
sustainability".


Competences

  • Adequately convey information verbally, written and graphic, including the use of new communication and information technologies.
  • Analyze and use information critically.
  • Demonstrate adequate knowledge and use the tools and concepts of the most relevant social science environment.
  • Demonstrate concern for quality and praxis.
  • Demonstrate initiative and adapt to new situations and problems.
  • Information from texts written in foreign languages.
  • Teaming developing personal values regarding social skills and teamwork.
  • Work autonomously

Learning Outcomes

  1. Adequately convey information verbally, written and graphic, including the use of new communication and information technologies.
  2. Analyze and critically assess the functioning of the various state political institutions.
  3. Analyze and use information critically.
  4. Analyze problems arising from the implementation of public policies and conflict situations recognizing the complexity of social phenomena and policy decisions that affect democracy, human rights, social justice and sustainable development.
  5. Demonstrate concern for quality and praxis.
  6. Demonstrate initiative and adapt to new situations and problems.
  7. Describe the main elements of the political process: socialization, attitudes and political ideologies.
  8. Information from texts written in foreign languages.
  9. Make a diagnosis of the problems of conflict and cooperation to the countries, regions and areas of the international system as it takes.
  10. Make a diagnosis of the problems of security and development to countries, regions and areas of the international system as it takes.
  11. Political actors describe and critically evaluate the political behavior in different socio-political and historical contexts.
  12. Show whether these policies cause conflicts or respond to a consensus.
  13. Teaming developing personal values regarding social skills and teamwork.
  14. Use this demonstration to be interpreted as embodying a political decision.
  15. Work autonomously

Content

SECTION 1: POLICY AND SUSTAINABILITY
1. What is the policy? Conflict management and provision of public goods. Sustainability as a public good.
2. The tragedy of the commons as a metaphor for the political management of sustainability. Sustainability and
governance of the commons.
3. Politics and political power: resources and strategies. Political power, legitimacy and coercion.
4. The political system: political actors, institutions and decisions. The concept of governance.


SECTION 2: POLICIES AND SUSTAINABILITY
5. What are public policies? Political system and public policies. Sustainability and environmental policies.
6. Who makes public policies? Political actors, resources, interests and belief systems.
7. Networks of actors and policies. The concept of promoter coalition.
8. How are the policies made? Cycle and phases of elaboration.


SECTION 3: ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY
9. The concept of governance. Environmental governance and environmental policy.
10. Environmental governance and transitions towards sustainability.


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Master classes 38 1.52 2, 4, 7, 9, 11
Reding seminar (solving problems) 10 0.4 3, 4, 14
Type: Supervised      
Case studies 10 0.4 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Debates, discussions and quizzes 10 0.4 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Type: Autonomous      
Student-led preparation of group exercise 35 1.4 1, 3, 8, 13, 15
Student-led study 47 1.88 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15

See the table.

 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Final exam (open book) 40% 0 0 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14
Group work 20% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15
Participation in class 10% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Reding seminar 30% 0 0 2, 3, 4, 7, 11, 12, 13

See the table.

 


Bibliography

- Gareth Porter, Janet Welsh Brown and Pamela S. Chasek (2017), Global Environmental Politics, Westview Press.
 
- Michele M. Betsill, Kathryin Hochstetler, and Dimitris Stevis (eds.) (2014), Advances in International Environmental Politics, Palgrave.
 
 

Software

None in particular.

 


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed