Environmental Policy in Times of Crisis
| Module title | Environmental Policy in Times of Crisis |
|---|---|
| Module code | POL3250 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Mr Michail Melidis (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 25 |
|---|
Module description
After a long period in the doldrums, environmental issues are now at the forefront of the mainstream politics affecting various sectors of business, society and citizens' life. This module investigates the evolution, changes and challenges of EU and British environmental policy after the recent economic crisis and during Brexit negotiations. In this course, you will have the opportunity to study and critique the latest developments of the environmental policy from a European and British perspective. You will also explore topics including: the role of the environment in policy making; the historical development of EU and British environmental policy, who is environmental leader and laggard, the impact of the recent economic crisis and Brexit and lastly some case studies. In terms of teaching method, the module will involve 2-hour workshops which merge lectures and seminars into a single, more interactive learning experience. The workshops will involve multimedia delivery in the form of audio-visual resources. These will be supported by links to further optional online material.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module aims to introduce you to the concept and development of environmental policy in light of the recent economic crisis and Brexit. In so doing, it will encourage you to consider: the environment as a policy problem; the evolution of EU and British environmental policy, the ‘leaders’ and ‘laggards’ in environmental policy; the opportunities and challenges arising from the economic crisis and Brexit to the EU and the UK respectively; and the investigation of some case studies.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Critically analyse the interplay between the economic crisis, Brexit and the changes and evolution of environmental policy, over the long term and from a European and British perspective.
- 2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the environmental, political, economic and social impact of the recent economic crisis and Brexit negotiations on environmental policy.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Critically reflect on key elements of the environmental debates regarding the actions, intentions and ambitions of the EU and the UK environmental policy.
- 4. Display awareness of a range of conceptual frameworks to understand the changing dynamics and trends in environmental policy at the international level.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Demonstrate an ability to problematize settled truths and assumptions about the state of the environment and our knowledge of these.
- 6. Demonstrate awareness of the evolution and effectiveness of environmental policy.
- 7. Study independently and manage time and assessment deadlines effectively.
- 8. Communicate effectively in speech and writing.
- 9. Demonstrate critical and analytical skills through tutorial discussions and module assessments.
- 10. Demonstrate proficiency in the use of the internet, online journal databases and other IT resources for the purposes of tutorial and assessment preparation.
- 11. Demonstrate effective applied writing.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
- The environment as a policy problem;
- EU and British Environmental policy;
- Leaders and Laggards;
- Policy windows of opportunities or policy dismantling;
- EU economic crisis and environmental policy;
- Brexit and environmental policy;
- Agriculture;
- Climate Change;
- Fisheries.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activity | 22 | 11 x 2-hour seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 50 | Private study reading and preparing for seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 78 | Preparation for essay and assessed presentation including researching and collating relevant sources; planning the structure and argument; writing up the essay |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay outline | 500 words | 1-11 | Peer-assessed |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 0 | 20 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 80 | 2,500 words | 1-11 | Written |
| Presentation | 20 | 15 minutes | 1-11 | Oral & Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (2,500 words) | 1-11 | August/September reassessment period |
| Presentation | Presentation slides and a written script (report) (1500 words) | 1-11 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Bache, I., & Jordan, A. (2006). The Europeanization of British Politics. In The Europeanization of British Politics (pp. 265-279). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Bauer, M. W., & Knill, C. (2012). Understanding policy dismantling: an analytical framework. Dismantling public policies: Preferences, strategies, and effects, 30-51.
Carter, N. (2007). The politics of the environment: Ideas, activism, policy. Cambridge University Press.
Jordan, A. (2002). The Europeanization of British Environmental Policy: A Departmental Perspective. Springer.
Jordan, A. J., & Liefferink, D. (2004). Environmental policy in Europe: the Europeanization of national environmental policy. Routledge.
Jordan, A. (2012). Environmental policy in the European Union: actors, institutions, and processes. Earthscan.
Jordan, A., Bauer, M. W., & Green-Pedersen, C. (2013). Policy dismantling. Journal of European Public Policy, 20(5), 795-805.
Knill, C., Heichel, S., & Arndt, D. (2012). Really a front-runner, really a Straggler? Of environmental leaders and laggards in the European Union and beyond—A quantitative policy perspective. Energy Policy, 48, 36-45.
Liefferink, D., Arts, B., Kamstra, J., & Ooijevaar, J. (2009). Leaders and laggards in environmental policy: a quantitative analysis of domestic policy outputs. Journal of European public policy, 16(5), 677-700.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 26/06/2019 |
| Last revision date | 26/06/2019 |
