PIR-30156 - Module Specification
School of Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

The ability of states and societies to protect our environment is a fundamental challenge to politics. There are many pathways which have been proposed by political economists. This module examines alternative ideological approaches by which states and societies could steer environmental governance, including sustainable development, Marxist approaches, radical de-growth strategies and free-market environmentalism.
The module also considers the challenges of managing scarce environmental resources among competing ends, but also among competing states, groups, and classes.

This module aims to:
- provide a Level 6 introduction to the theoretical perspectives, empirical approaches and key bodies of literature related to analyzing the political economy of environmental protection
- enhance critical skills needed to analyse complex theories and concepts related to the study of environmental protection, to evaluate how we best define these concepts, and to apply these definitions to real life settings and debates
- cultivate skills needed to effectively engage in empirical and conceptual research in the field of political economy, public policy and social policy
- enhance skills needed to effectively assess and evaluate environmental challenges using the theories and concepts of political economy.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Critically analyse and evaluate complex theories and concepts related to the study of the political economy of the environment: 1,2,

Apply political economy theories and concepts to environmental protection/environmental social policy debates: 1,2,

Pursue independent research on political economy of the environment in a policy/issue area of their choice: 1,

Identify strengths and weaknesses in theories and concepts of environmental political economy: 1,2,

Study hours

Seminar contact time: 20 hours
Preparation for seminars: 40 hours
Preparation for and writing of essay: 50 hours
Preparation for exam and sitting exam: 40 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment