Political Economy of the Environment (L7094S)
Political Economy of the Environment
Module L7094S
Module details for 2021/22.
30 credits
FHEQ Level 6
Module Outline
This module introduces students to a political-economy perspective on the key issues of the global environment. It attempts to move beyond the limitations of conventional political and economic analyses in coming to terms with the threats of environmental degradation and climate change. The module taps into a broader type of ethical, natural and social theorisation that defined an earlier tradition of political economy. This is not a module on environmental or resource economics, though these will be examined during the term. Rather, this module tries to understand social production as much more than a series of market relations. It tries to develop a broader socio-cultural understanding of production that `de-naturalises¿ the way we view and exploit the natural world.
The module also attempts to throw light on the tension between economics and the environment given the framework of an unequal world market. It will examine to what extent the pursuit of greater distributional justice in the global political economy is amenable to facing the challenges of environmental degradation and climate change. We will look at the opportunities and risks associated with the expansion of the global market, as well as the practicability of notions of sustainable development. Other topics covered in the module include capitalism and the environment; sustainable consumption; cultural political economy; environmental economics; ecological economics; private environmental governance; climate change denial; and case studies on China and India.
Module learning outcomes
Develop a systematic and critical understanding of the key distinctions between a political economy approach and those of environmental economics and ecological economics.
Develop a detailed conceptual understanding of the key debates regarding anthropogenic climate change and environmental degradation and the value of a political-economy approach in conceptualising these issues.
Effectively synthesise and communicate a detailed knowledge of and argument about a specific topic of the political economy of the global environment.
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 30.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Essay | T2 Week 6 | 100.00% |
| Essay (3500 words) | Semester 2 Assessment Week 1 Mon 16:00 | 70.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Semester | Seminar | 3 hours | 11111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Dr Earl Gammon
Convenor
/profiles/138664
Dr Melanie Richter-Montpetit
Assess convenor
/profiles/349663
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