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Department of European Studies & Modern Languages, Unit Catalogue 2010/11


EU50604: The politics of sustainability: environmental security and international relations

Click here for further information Credits: 6
Click here for further information Level: Masters
Click here for further information Period: This unit is available in...
Semester 2
Click here for further information Assessment: CW 100%
Click here for further informationSupplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites:
Click here for further information Description: Aims:
The unit aims to:
* explore the different dimensions of the politics of sustainability;
* investigate the role of key regional actors (such as the EU and the USA) in promoting sustainability and enhancing environmental security;
* investigate how environmental security issues contribute to changes in international relations in the contemporary period.

Learning Outcomes:
Students who have successfully completed this unit will:
* be able to analyse the politics of sustainability in relation to the management of environmental issues and to the development of sustainable social and economic relations;
* understand how environmental security is a major factor in shaping international relations;
* have detailed knowledge about national sustainability programmes and the internationalisation of sustainability politics;
* have detailed knowledge of political actors, their goals, instruments and behaviour in shaping the politics of sustainability.

Skills:
The key skills the unit will hone and further develop are:
* Advanced research skills in identifying, locating and exploiting a wide range of descriptive, evaluative and theoretical literature.
* Intellectual skills of conceptual, original and independent thinking, critical analysis, synthesis and reasoned argument.
* Skills of assessment and judgement in relation to the soundness of competing arguments and scenarios, including the reporting and assessing of qualitative and quantitative data.
* Generic and transferable skills related to the oral and written presentation of ideas.
* Skills of self-direction, self-evaluation and time management.

Content:
Lectures and seminars will cover the following main themes:
* Sustainability: the political dimensions of a contested concept.
* Environment and security: causes and consequences of environmental risk.
* Resource scarcity, resource conflicts and eco-terrorism.
* The geopolitics of energy sourcing.
* The international politics of climate change.
* International environmental regimes and leadership conflicts between the EU, the USA and other key actors.
NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.