Global Environmental Governance: Politics, Institutions, and Change

Catalog description

This graduate seminar explores the dynamic and contested terrain of global environmental governance, with a focus on the politics, institutions and actors that shape responses to climate change and other transboundary environmental challenges. We will review the literatures on the environment in international relations, political economy, and comparative politics. The course engages with foundational debates and emerging research on the design and effectiveness of international environmental regimes, the expanding role of non-state actors (NGOs, scientists, firms, sub-national governments), and the interplay between domestic and global policymaking on environmental issues. Core concepts include distributive conflicts and collective action problems, the challenges of governing over long periods, and the politics of target setting. A key objective of the course is to help students initiate one of their own research projects. In doing this, students will gain experience in 1) identifying a clear empirical puzzle, 2) proposing a research design to causally identify an answer to this puzzle, 3) collecting and analyzing relevant empirical evidence, and 4) presenting the work. The course is reading-intensive and discussion-driven. It is designed for PhD and advanced Master's students in environmental social science, political science, public policy, and related disciplines who aim to conduct research in the field of climate and environmental politics. Highly motivated upper-level undergraduates with relevant preparation are encouraged to speak with the professor before enrolling. Prior coursework in international relations, public policy, or environmental politics is recommended.