Department of European Studies & Modern Languages, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
EU50604 The politics of sustainability: risk, security and stability |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Masters |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: CW 100% |
| Requisites: |
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Aims: The unit aims to:
* explore the different dimensions of the politics of sustainability; * investigate how European Union politics and policy integrate these different dimensions; * analyse the politics of sustainability within the context of international security and stability; * examine how the EU contributes to the global politics of sustainability. Learning Outcomes: Students who have successfully completed this unit will: * be able to analyse the politics of sustainability not simply as the management of environmental issues, but also as the politics of sustainable social relations, sustainable economy and sustainable peace; * see the politics of sustainability as a major factor influencing and shaping international relations; * have detailed knowledge about national sustainability programmes and the internationalisation of sustainability politics at European and international level; * have detailed knowledge of political goals and actors and policy instruments 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 topics: * Sustainability: A Contested Concept and its political dimensions * Resource scarcity, resource conflicts and eco-terrorism in the World Risk Society * Environment and Security: Environmental causes and consequences of military conflicts * Achieving Sustainability: Policy Principles and Instruments * Towards new patterns of production and consumption * The Europeanisation of Environmental Politics * International regimes and leadership conflicts between Europe and the US * Environmental regulations and world trade * Sustainability in the politics of the World Bank and the WTO * Structural Adjustment Programmes as a source of conflict * Socio-economic development paths and alternative futures. |