SFS10814 Politics and environment (Autumn 2019)

The course is connected to the following study programs

Optional course in the Bachelor's Programme in Society, Language and Culture

Lecture Semester

4th or 6th semester (spring) after completed extension course in either German, English or Political Science.  

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

Knowledge
The students have

• knowledge of the political theory concerning man and its relationship with nature.

• knowledge of the relationship between politics and the environment as described by the ancient Greek philosophers, the political philosophers of the enlightenment and modern rational choice theory.

• knowledge of ecology and the environmental challenges mankind faces.

Skills
The students are

• capable of seeing the fundamental environmental challenges mankind is faced with, and how we can think theoretically about political solutions to these challenges.

General competence
The course builds competence in stringent analytical philosophy, the students are given a wide ranging introduction to important social issues and an introduction to philosophy and ethics in general.

Content

Introduction to the fundamental challenges connected to political theory and environmental issues. The course starts with a survey of how the classical political philosophers dealt with the environment, and gradually moves towards modern conceptions of the relationship between politics and the environment. The course covers a broad spectrum of approaches, from deep ecology to economically oriented rational choice theory, giving the students a solid foundation for a reflected view on important social issues.

Forms of teaching and learning

In this course, student-active teaching methods are emphasized, and the students are expected to participate in various activities in addition to lectures.

Individual instruction and supervision connected to the term paper will be given.

Workload

Approx. 240 hours.

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

The students are required to take part in a seminar where each student present the preliminary topic for their term paper and oral presentation. Each student is also required to provide specific feedback to one of the other students according to a pre-defined set of requirements. 

Examination

Individual term paper and individual oral presentation

Individual term paper (8 to 10 pages) and oral presentation (approx. 15-20 minutes). The term paper has to be approved for a pass result before the oral test. Both the term paper and the oral test must be passed. The oral examination may adjust the final result by two steps up or down on the A-F grading scale. Individual term paper and oral presentation can be conducted in English or Norwegian language.

Examiners

One internal and one external examiner, or to internal examiners.

Conditions for resit/rescheduled exams

In the case of a failed result of the term paper or if the student wishes to improve the new exam will comprise both the written and the oral part.

Course evaluation

The course is evaluated each semester.

Literature

Books: 

Barrett, Scott (2007): Why Cooperate? Oxford University Press: Oxford. (198 s.)

Barry, John (2007): Environment and social theory. Routledge: Oxon. (315 s.)

Latouche, Serge (2009): Farewell to growth. Polity press: Cambridge. (103 s.)

Meyer, John M. (2001): Political Nature. MIT Press: Cambridge. (156 s.)

Næss, Arne (1993): Ecology, community and lifestyle. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. (232 s.)

Compendium 

Randers, J. (2012). 2052: A global forecast for the next forty years. In The Futurein Practice: The State of Sustainability. University of Cambridge.

IPCC (2013). Climate change 2013: The physical science basis. summary for policymakers. Technical report, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Sætra, Henrik (2014). The state of no nature. Thomas Hobbes and the natural world. Ecology & Safety.

Ostrom, Elinor (1990). Governing the commons: The evolution of institutions for collective action. Cambridge university press: Cambridge.