Course Syllabus
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DIS students @ #FridaysforFuture Global School Strike, Copenhagen, Sept 2019
| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2020 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Major Disciplines: |
International Relations, Political Science |
| Faculty Members: |
Rebecca Rutt - rebecca.rutt@dis.dk |
| Program Director: |
Neringa Vendelbo - nb@dis.dk |
| Program Assistant: |
Julia Magnuson - jma@dis.dk |
| Time & Place: |
Fridays 13.15-16.10, N7-B21 |
Description of Course
The course Environmental Policy in Practice provides students with a deeper understanding of why certain environmental agendas take precedence (as others are ignored), knowledge of how policies are struggled over and eventually implemented in the real world, and some key tools to the policymaking process. With a focus on Danish, European and global issues, the course also gives students the chance to dig deeper into an actual environmental conflict through a group-based case report.
The course opens with a discussion on underlying environmental philosophy and ideologies, which sets the scene for interpreting the very different concrete policies and policymaking processes we can observe in the world around us right now. Later, we also dig into the framing of environmental problems and solutions, to think more critically about whose interests are being served in divergent representations and narratives of environmental phenomena. We will cover some of the practical aspects of ‘how’ policymaking occurs, from stakeholder identification and analysis, participatory processes, and the choice of policy tools and instruments, through to some of the key elements of policy evaluation. Several field visits and study tours alongside in-class activities and group work complement the lectures.
Learning Objectives
The purpose of this course is to deepen understanding of how environmental policies are formulated and implemented in a small state (Denmark), the European Union, and on the global stage. Students will acquire empirical knowledge about the actors, policy instruments, policy making processes and the communication of these policies on all three levels.
Students will also get a sense of how it is to be a real actor in the processes of creating environment policies, i.e. a public sector official, an NGO activist, etc. This will enable students to better understand how political organizations function and how to interact with or within them. More specifically, this course will help prepare students to work in an organization that deals with areas related to environmental policy.
Faculty
Rebecca Rutt
Ph.D. in Development Studies, University of Copenhagen, 2014; MSc. International Development, University of Amsterdam, 2007. I am currently an Assistant Professor in European Environmental Policy at the University of Copenhagen (since 2018 to present). I have worked mainly in academia including at the University of East Anglia (2017-2018), University of Michigan (2016), and University of Copenhagen (2010-2016). Further back, I worked at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2007-2010). I am motivated by the perspectives and debates of Feminist Political Ecology and Environmental Justice, and by volunteerism and justice-based activism. With DIS since 2019.
Marie Lautrup
Ph.D.-student in Environmental Economics, University of Copenhagen. MSc. Agricultural Economics (2017). My field of research is the socio-economic impact of flooding in Denmark.
I have given lectures in courses like Applied Economics of Forest and Nature (MA), Economic Valuation and Cost-Benefit Analysis (MA), Applied Economic Analysis (BA) and Nature, Environment and Society (BA).
Before starting my Ph.D., I worked two years in the Danish Environmental Protection Agency.
Readings
Please pick up the textbook, Politics and the Environment - From Theory to Practice, during the arrivals workshop.
James Connelly, Graham Smith, David Benson, & Clare Saunders, (2012): Politics and the Environment -From Theory to Practice, 3ed., Routledge. (We will draw from several chapters of this book).
Additional materials:
- Bovens, M. ‘tHart, P., and Kuipers, S. 2008. Chapter 15: The Politics of Policy Evaluation. In R.E. Goodin et al. (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Public Policy. Oxford University Press.
- Bradley, K. 2009. Planning for eco-friendly living in diverse societies. Local Environment 14(4): 347-363.
- Carson, R. 1962. ‘A Fable for Tomorrow’ & ‘The Obligation to Endure’ in Silent Spring. London: Penguin Classics, pp. 21-30.
- Cornwall, A. 2008. Unpacking ‘Participation’: models, meanings and practices. Community Development Journal 43(3): 269–283.
- European Environmental Agency. 2016. Environment and climate policy evaluation EEA Report No 18/2016.
- European Union 2014. The European Union explained: How the EU works.
- Folketinget, 2014. The Parliamentary System of Denmark - Introduction to Danish Democracy.
- Lakoff, G. 2010. Why it matters how we frame the environment. Environmental Communication 4(1): 70-81.
- Mitchell et al. 1997. Toward a Theory of Stakeholder Identification and Salience: Defining the Principle of Who and What Really Counts. The Academy of Management Review 22(4): 853-886.
- Schneider A. and Ingram H. 1990. Behavioral Assumptions of Policy Tools. The Journal of Politics 52(2): 510-529.
Additional short, focused materials may be supplied throughout the course schedule. Participants are expected to check the calendar in advance to identify all required reading for each day.
Field Studies
The course will include a field study to 'Nature Park' Amager, a 'wilderness' just a few kilometers from Copenhagen City Hall. Sven Norup of the Danish Nature Agency will show us around and share his work in nature management and the different opinions regarding the use of this area. We will also go hear about the work of Jonas Nedenskov, Environmental chief and civil engineer, at Copenhagen's new heat and power, waste-to-energy plant Amager Resource Center (ARC).
We will also visit:
- the Danish Parliament (Christiansborg Palace), with a guided tour and Q&A by a representative of the green political party Alternativet.
- the European Environmental Agency (EEA), with presentations and Q&A by EEA staff engaged in policy deliberations at the European level.
- the environmental NGO Forests of the World, where Campaign Coordinator Gry Bossen will discuss environmental activism in Denmark and Europe, particularly on NGO participation in UN climate change negotiations at the UNFCCC Conference of the Party (COP) meetings.
Guest Lecturers
- Climate justice activist and Professor of Political Ecology Jens Friis Lund, will guide us a discussion on what regular folks can do to impact environmental policymaking from a grassroots and social movement perspective.
More may be confirmed.
Approach to Teaching
The approach will be a mix of empirical cases and practical and critical tools, aiming to give students a realistic understanding of how the relevant policies are developed in "the real world". The instructor will bring in illustrative cases of key political issues related to environmental policy. Practitioners from political institutions, experts, and stakeholder communities will be invited to provide students with alternative perspectives, giving the students the opportunity to engage directly and shape their own views on how policy making can be addressed.
Expectations of the Students
Active participation including coming to class prepared (e.g. reading the assigned literature beforehand) is essential in this course. Participants will be asked to share their own experiences and knowledge of the issues at hand. Some people feel uncomfortable speaking publicly; please contact the teacher directly and give a heads up. Participants are also expected to engage meaningfully in a group-based, in-depth case report using both class and their own time, and to present the case in class.
Students are expected to bring their laptops to the class.
Activities:
- Substantial in-class and student-led discussion
- In-class field trips
- Group case reports (students will work in groups throughout the course to dig into a specific environmental conflict/policy dilemma) + case presentations
Grading
| Assignment |
Percent |
| In class participation (including field visits) |
20% |
| Online discussion participation |
30% |
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Group case report part 1 |
20% |
| Group case report part 2 |
20% |
| Case presentations |
10% |
In-class participation will be graded according to individuals being present and on-time (excepting cases of reasonable absence such as illness, with notice). All course meetings (classes + field study trips) are included in this assessment. Final mark for in-class participation will be averaged and will consist of 20% of total final grade. A lack of notification of absence results in a half-grade deduction from your total final grade. After two 'excused' absences, academic affairs and/or a doctors must be involved.
Online discussion will take place in advance of most classes and aims to generate reflection on the readings and/or preparation for the face to face sessions including field trips and guest lecturers. Online discussions will be averaged and will consist of 30% of total final grade.
Case reports parts 1 and 2 and in-class case presentations will cumulatively account for 50% of final grade. Grades are allocated by group. Please see the case manual for more details on assessment of these three components.
Assignments are only accepted within the stated deadlines – or later in case an individual arrangement is agreed upon (no later than two weeks before such deadlines). More information on the assignments will be given in class.
Academic Regulations
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org
Course Summary:
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