Course: POLS 4381, International Environmental Policy and Administration
Semester: Spring, 1996
Time: 12:30-1:45, Tuesdays and Thursdays
Location: BC-101
Instructor: Dr. William R. Mangun
134 Brewster Hall, Ph. No. 328-6156
Office Hours: Tuesday 3:00-5:30; Thursday 3:00-5:30.
Attendance: All students are expected to attend class according to university policies. Attendance will be taken and failure to attend class may result in grade reductions in the absence of appropriate excuses.
Course
Description: This course provides students with an overview of international institutions devoted to the task of maintaining the sustainability of the earth's ecological systems through bilateral and multilateral agreements among countries. Various air, water, and natural resource protection policies and institutions established for the protection of the environment within selected countries are also discussed. This course is designed to facilitate a reasonable understanding of the political ramifications and difficulties of translating scientific issuses into formal public policies at the international level.
Course
Objectives: Students are expected to acquire sufficient knowledge and insight into international relations concerning energy and environmental legislation and regulations to initiate limited policy analysis and evaluation of the adequacy of existing institutions to address complex cross-national environmental policy conflicts. Where it is possible, students should also be able to make suggestions where change should be initiated based on readings, in-class discussion, and outside research directed by the instructor.
Course
Requirements: Successful completion of:
1. Two short-essay question examinations during the semester (25% each);
2. A research paper based on a policy analysis of an important international or cross-national energy or environmental policy issue or problem (15-20 pages, due in class April 5 (25% of grade). Late papers may be assessed a grade reduction);
3. In-class participation in discussions and simulated bargaining sessions will be worth 25% of the grade because international relations involves communication between two or more disagreeing parties concerning complex policy issues and a student must be able to communicate effectively in order to succeed in this field.
Required
Textbooks: Lynton K. Caldwell, International Environmental Policy: Emergence and Dimensions, 2nd edition. (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1990).
Peter M. Haas, Robert O. Keohane, and Marc A. Levy, Institutions for the Earth (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1993.
Recommended
Textbook Mostafa K. Tolba, et al., The World Environment 1972-1992: Two Decades of Challenge. (London: Chapman and Hall, 1993). This book will have to be special ordered from the ECU Bookstore.
Course Outline:
January 09 Introduction
January 11 Film on International Environmental Policy Dilemmas
Reading: Caldwell, introduction and ch. 1.
January 16 Understanding the Environment as a International Environmental Policy Issue
Reading: Caldwell, ch. 1.
January 18 The Effectiveness of International Environmental Institutions
Reading: Haas, et al., ch. 1.
March 21
January 23 The Emergence of a Global Environmental Movement
Reading: Caldwell, ch. 2.
March 26
January 25 The Stockholm Conference and Its Legacy, 1972-1992.
Reading: Caldwell, ch. 3.
March 28
January 30 Evolving Structures of International Environmental Policy, Law, and Cooperation Reading: Caldwell, ch. 4.
April 2
February 1 Regional Arrangements: Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements
Reading: Caldwell, ch. 5.
January 23
February 6 The International Environmental Issues: Air Pollution and Ozone Depletion
Reading: Haas, et al., ch. 2.
February 8 Debate on Ozone Protection (One side argues for more severe limitations on CFC uses and the other argues for weaker limitations)
February13 The International Environmental Issues: European Acid Rain
Reading: Haas, ch. 3.
February15 Debate on Acid Rain Controls (One side argues for more severe controls and the other argues for weaker controls or delays in implementation of controls)
February20 The International Environmental Issues: Protecting the Baltic and North Seas
Reading: Haas, et al., ch. 4.
February22 Debate on Baltic and North Sea Protection Measures
February27 The International Environmental Issues: Intentional Oil Pollution of the Oceans
Reading: Haas, et al., ch. 5.
February29 Mid-Term Examination
March 3-10 Spring Break!!!
March 12 The International Environmental Issues: International Fisheries Management
Reading: Haas, et al., ch. 6.
March 14 Debate on Fishing Limitations
March 19 The International Environmental Issues: Managing Pesticide Use in Developing Countries
Reading: Haas, et al., ch. 7.
March 21 International Population Institutions
Reading: Haas, et al., ch. 8.
March 26 Population Conference (Individual "countries" present proposals for addressing population problems in their countries in a public forum format)
March 28 Improving the Effectiveness ofInternational Environmental Institutions
Reading: Haas, et al, ch. 9.
April 2 National Responses to Environmental Problems
Reading: Tolba, ch.22 (on reserve).
April 4 International Commons: Atmosphere, Oceans, and Antarctica
Reading: Caldwell, ch. 8.
April 9 The Changing International Order: The New Geopolicy
Reading: Caldwell, ch. 9.
April 11 Brief Presentations of Research Papers
April 16 Brief Presentations of Research Papers
April 18 Concluding Remarks
April 30 Final Examination at 11:00 a.m.
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER, BUT WATCH OUT FOR THE ULTRAVIOLET RAYS!!!