Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LH Politics of Environment
School	School of Geog Earth & Env Sci
Department	Geography
Module Code	03 36271
Module Lead	Julian Clark
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Exclusions
Description	Drawing on a variety of disciplinary approaches, this module examines the political challenges surrounding environmental policy in contemporary developed and developing societies, alongside the theoretical and practical tools and skills used in their resolution. Using a range of case examples from the global north and south (including in rural areas), it examines state-of-the-art concepts and policy approaches to address these challenges. In doing so it advances the notion of science as a socially constructed endeavour in analysing the evidence base on conflicting policy issues. The module is structured around critical questions including: how do environmental politics/environmental policy challenges come about? What are the processes by which environmental politics emerge/are defined? Who is involved in making decisions, and how are values and knowledges mobilized to underpin them? How can we reconcile conflicts between different forms of rationality with the need to be environmentally accountable and responsible? And, ultimately, what are 'good' decisions and ‘good’ environmental governance and outcomes?
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Acquire knowledge of origins and manifestation of different environmental challenges in the global north and global south; Acquire knowledge of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, concepts and theories for assessing and addressing environmental challenges in the global north and global south; Understand the strengths and weaknesses of these different approaches and their fitness for purpose to deal with a range of different environmental challenges. Be able to critically apply ideas introduced in the module to the evaluation and design of environmental policies and decision-making processes.
Assessment	36271-01 : 4,000 word Assignment : Coursework (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 1 x 4000 word assignment (100%) Reassessment: Supplementary coursework
Other
Reading List