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  2. Global Politics and the Environment [POL3110]

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Global Politics and the Environment

  • Unit Code

    POL3110

  • Year

    2016

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    3

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

Environmental issues are among the most profound challenges facing humanity to ensure the sustainability of the planet. Adopting a multidisciplinary perspective and accepting the scientific consensus on environmental issues, this unit examines how the international political system is responding to global environmental issues by investigating the rise of the environmental movement, the spread of concepts and ideas about sustainability, the growth of environmental institutions, processes and interest groups, and the extent and limits of global political cooperation. It sets these developments against theories of international relations and media representation. A feature of the unit will be the opportunity to focus on individual case studies including: global warming and its social impacts, species loss, protection of the ozone layer, global water supplies and international whaling.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Apply international relations theory to environmental issues.
  2. Compare the rolesof theory, government agencies and interest groups in case studies of global environmental issues.
  3. Evaluate information relating to major global sustainability challenges and their implications.
  4. Examine the role of government and non-government agencies and international law dealing with environmental issues.
  5. Identify key concepts and theories in global environmental politics.

Unit Content

  1. Case studies in global environmental issues to reflect a sustainable society.
  2. Emergence of environmental politics.
  3. Global economy and development.
  4. History of environmental thought.
  5. International relations theory and environmental politics.
  6. The role of interest groups in environmental politics.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lecture, class presentations, internet research, essay writing, documentary analysis.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioPortfolio50%
ExaminationExamination50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioPortfolio50%
EssayEssay50%

Text References

  • ^ Connelly, J., Smith, G., Benson, D., & Saunders, C. (2012). Politics and the environment from theory to practice. New York: Routledge.
  • Mulvaney, K. (2003). An insider's account of the struggle to stop commercial whaling. London: Shearwater.
  • Mansbach, R., & Rafferty, L. (2008). Introduction to global politics. London: Routledge.
  • Lacy, M. (2007). Security and climate change, international relations and the limits of realism. London: Routledge.
  • Giddens, A. (2009). The politics of climate change. London: Polity.
  • Elliot, L. (2004). The global politics of the environment. London: McMillan.
  • Diamond, L. (2005). Collapse: How societies choose to fail or succeed. New York: Viking.
  • De Sombre, E. (2007). The global environment and world politics. New York: Continuum.
  • Bjorn, L. (2004). Global crises: Global solutions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Pointing, C. (1992). A green history of the world. London: Penguin.
  • Park, J., Conca, K., & Finger, M. (2008). The crisis of global environmental governance. London: Routledge.

Website References

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

POL3110|3|1

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Global Politics and the Environment

  • Unit Code

    POL3110

  • Year

    2016

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    3

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

Environmental issues are among the most profound challenges facing humanity to ensure the sustainability of the planet. Adopting a multidisciplinary perspective and accepting the scientific consensus on environmental issues, this unit examines how the international political system is responding to global environmental issues by investigating the rise of the environmental movement, the spread of concepts and ideas about sustainability, the growth of environmental institutions, processes and interest groups, and the extent and limits of global political cooperation. It sets these developments against theories of international relations and media representation. A feature of the unit will be the opportunity to focus on individual case studies including: global warming and its social impacts, species loss, protection of the ozone layer, global water supplies and international whaling.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Apply international relations theory to environmental issues.
  2. Compare the rolesof theory, government agencies and interest groups in case studies of global environmental issues.
  3. Evaluate information relating to major global sustainability challenges and their implications.
  4. Examine the role of government and non-government agencies and international law dealing with environmental issues.
  5. Identify key concepts and theories in global environmental politics.

Unit Content

  1. Case studies in global environmental issues to reflect a sustainable society.
  2. Emergence of environmental politics.
  3. Global economy and development.
  4. History of environmental thought.
  5. International relations theory and environmental politics.
  6. The role of interest groups in environmental politics.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lecture, class presentations, internet research, essay writing, documentary analysis.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioPortfolio50%
ExaminationExamination50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioPortfolio50%
EssayEssay50%

Text References

  • ^ Connelly, J., Smith, G., Benson, D., & Saunders, C. (2012). Politics and the environment from theory to practice. New York: Routledge.
  • Mulvaney, K. (2003). An insider's account of the struggle to stop commercial whaling. London: Shearwater.
  • Mansbach, R., & Rafferty, L. (2008). Introduction to global politics. London: Routledge.
  • Lacy, M. (2007). Security and climate change, international relations and the limits of realism. London: Routledge.
  • Giddens, A. (2009). The politics of climate change. London: Polity.
  • Elliot, L. (2004). The global politics of the environment. London: McMillan.
  • Diamond, L. (2005). Collapse: How societies choose to fail or succeed. New York: Viking.
  • De Sombre, E. (2007). The global environment and world politics. New York: Continuum.
  • Bjorn, L. (2004). Global crises: Global solutions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Pointing, C. (1992). A green history of the world. London: Penguin.
  • Park, J., Conca, K., & Finger, M. (2008). The crisis of global environmental governance. London: Routledge.

Website References

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

POL3110|3|2