Global environmental issues are some of the most pressing scientific and political challenges we face today. In the context of climate change, we have witnessed a paradoxical process of ever increasing scientific certainty about the causes and consequences of global warming, while at the same time political action to effectively address climate change has been lagging behind. Other issues such as biodiversity, agriculture, desertification and ocean governance have not only suffered from this intense focus on climate change, but also lost their political appeal and funding for solutions.This course examines the many different approaches that have been developed to cope with environmental problems, from international agreements to market-based solutions and private activities, in short how we historically governed the global commons (common-pool resources which incorporate but are not limited to earth's shared natural resources, such as the deep oceans, the atmosphere, outer space and the polar regions and more recently the cyberspace) and how we try to do it now. The course will enable students to critically examine and assess current ecological issues and environmental governance, with a specific emphasis on fairness, legitimacy, equity and justice. Students will gain in-depth empirical knowledge of current politics of environment (negotiations, policies, institutions and politics) within and beyond the United Nations system.This course aims to introduce the main paradigms and contestations in the International Relations discipline, regarding global environmental politics. The seminar is divided into three main parts:PART I: BACKDROP AND INTRODUCTIONPART II: RELEVANT SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT IN THEIR DISCIPLINEPART III: CURRENT ISSUES IN GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICSThere will be field trips to leading Think Tanks and research institutes, allowing students to question scientists, policy-makers and lobbyists on environmental questions.
Course leaderDr. Aysem Mert
Target groupThe course is designed for all students interested in global environmental issues, ranging from climate change to biodiversity and forest protection, and politics. Students with a social science background and those without such a background but with a profound interest in the governance of environmental issues at the international and global level are encouraged to register. The course aims to bring together students with diverse cultural, regional as well as academic backgrounds. A general knowledge of international relations, global actors and institutions is desirable, but no specific expertise in environmental law or governance theory is required.
Credits info4 ECTS Grading Attendance and Active Participation: 30% Reading and engaging with required literature: 15% Presentation in class, 10-15 min: 20% Final take home paper: 35%
Fee infoEUR 900: Tuition EUR 250: Program fee
Freie Universit%C3%A4t BerlinAddress: FUBiS, Malteserstr. 74-100
Postal code: 12249
City: Berlin
Country: Germany
Website: http://www.fubis.org/
E-mail: fubis@fubis.org
Phone: +49-30-838 73472
