Undergraduate Seminar in International Relations IRL4590 L, Park Bourdais Jeong-Won

Topic outline

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  Seminar on Environmental Politics, Development and Global Governance

  
  

  The theme of the seminar for this semester is Environment and Development. In Part I, it covers basic and core concepts in Environmental studies. various disciplinary approaches, environmental politics, governance, and diplomacy. In Part II, students will explore their own topics to produce a research paper and to make a presentation on a case study of one's own choice focusing on a prominent environmental issue at local, national, regional, and global level, for example, climate change, water pollution, green technology and industrial development, energy security, international environmental law, sustainable natural resource management, environmental movement, etc.         
  

  
  

  Main topics and schedule (indicative and subject to change if necessary):

  Part I: Environment, politics, and public policy 
  

  Topic 1: Introduction to Environmental studies: key concepts, actors and approaches

  Topic 2: Environmental Politics: political systems and environmentalism

  Topic 3: Main environmental issues and environmental policy

  5 Oct. 2021: First written exam

  (18~24 Oct. 2021: study break)  
  

  10~17 Oct. 2021: first mid-term score (20%) submission deadline (for instructors)

  Part II: Global Environmental Politics

  Topic 4: Main issues and concepts: security, disputes, trade, justice 

  Topic 4: Global environmental regimes and governance  

  Topic 5: Climate change and diplomacy

  22-28 Nov. 2021: 2nd mid-term score (40%) submission deadline (for instructors)

  Topic 6: Transboundary water resources and ocean environment  

  Topic 7: International politics of biodiversity and biosafety

  9 Dec. 2021: Final assessment (Submission due for the group project)

   

  
  

  • Zoom meeting etiquette: 15 tips and best practices for online video conference meetings URL
  • University policy on academic dishonesty File
  • Zoom meeting link URL
  • https://zoom.us/j/94446165735
    

    Meeting ID: 944 4616 5735

    
    

  • Contact for technical difficulties Page

    If any of you face technical difficulties, please contact the Administrator (css_coordinator@kimep.kz).
    
    

  • Course syllabus File
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  Core reading (2021 Fall)_updating

  • Textbook: Harper 2017_Chapter 1 File
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  Lecture slides 2021 Fall

  • 1. Introduction: fundamentals File
  • 2. Approaches and stakeholders File
  • 3. Political system and environmentalism File
  • 4. Market and environmental policy File
  • 5. Climate change File
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  Student presentations

  • Presentation schedule and guideline 2021 Fall File
  • Peer commenting exercise (template form) File

    Download the form here. 

  • Background paper Assignment
  • Presentation files Assignment
  • Filled peer commenting form Assignment

    Once you fill the peer commenting form, upload here within 15 mins after each class.  

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  Mid-term examination (5 Oct 2021)

  • Exam paper Assignment

    Upload your competed exam paper here. 

  • Exam question paper File

    Download your exam paper here. 

  • Exam paper in MS word File
  • Mid-term exam results and marking summary File
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  References (additional reading)

  • Reading_case study Folder

    Case studies:

    THOMAS, Marzhan (2015) ‘Social, environmental and economic sustainability of Kazakhstan: a long-term perspective’ Central Asian Survey 34(4): pp. 456-483.

    FRANKE, Anja, Andrea GAWRICHA, Gurban ALAKBAROVA (2009) ‘Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan as Post-Soviet Rentier States: Resource Incomes and Autocracy as a Double 'Curse' in Post-Soviet Regimes’ Europe-Asia Studies 61(1): 109–140

    OECD (2017) Multi-dimensional Review of Kazakhstan VOLUME 2. IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS (Paris: OECD)

    BARTHÉLÉMY COURMONT (2015) ‘Towards a “Green Detente” between Japan and China? The Case of Cooperation on Reforestation’ Issues & Studies 51(3): 29-62.

    SAUL, Ben (2013) 'China, Natural Resources, Sovereignty and International Law' Asian Studies Review 37(2): 196-214. 
    

    
    

  • Reading 2 File

    JOHNSON, Thomas (2013) ‘The Politics of Waste Incineration in Beijing: The Limits of a Top-Down Approach?’ Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning 15(1): 109-128

    Oleg Nikolaevich Yanitsky (2012) ‘From nature protection to politics: the Russian environmental movement 1960–2010’ Environmental Politics 21(6): pp. 922–940

    
    

     

    
    

  • Additional reading Folder
  • Reading 3 Folder

    FRANKE, Anja, Andrea GAWRICHA, Gurban ALAKBAROVA (2009) ‘Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan as Post-Soviet Rentier States: Resource Incomes and Autocracy as a Double 'Curse' in Post-Soviet Regimes’ Europe-Asia Studies 61(1): 109–140

    
    

    Carter, Neil (2007) The Politics of the Environment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ‘Green Political Thoughts’, pp. 41-76.

    
    

  • Reading_climate diplomacy Folder

    Case studies

    SHEUREUR, Miranda (2016) ‘The Paris Climate Agreement and the Three Largest Emitters: China, the United States, and the European Union’, Politics and Governance 4(3): 219-223

    MUNSLOW, Barry and Tim O'DEMPSEY (2010) ‘Globalisation and Climate Change in Asia: the urban health impact’ Third World Quarterly 31(8): 1339-1356

    Bourdais Park, JeongWon (2018) “The Strategic Duality and Convergence of China’s Transition in the Global Climate Regime: ‘From a Vetoing to a Leading Country'” Journal of Global and Area Studies, 2(1): 65-79

    
    

  • Reading_int'l environmental policy File

    Hayes, Jarrod and Janelle Knox-Hayes (2014) ‘Security in Climate Change Discourse: Analyzing the Divergence between US and EU Approaches to Policy’ Global Environmental Politics 14(2): pp.82-101.

    Kyae Lim Kwon · Robert J. Hanlon (2016)  ‘A comparative review for understanding elite interest and climate change policy in China’ Environmental Development and Sustainability 18:1177–1193
    

    
    

    
    

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  Other learning materials

  • News on dam construction in Brazil File
  • UNFCCC COP21 Paris Agreement (full document) File
  • Rio Declaration 1992 File
  • Brundtland Report / Sustainable Development (summary) File
  • Reading_transboundary water resources Folder

    Case studies:

    ZAKHIROVA, Leila (2013) "The International Politics of Water Security in Central Asia" EUROPE-ASIA STUDIES 65(10): 1994–2013

    Bourdais Park, Aigul Adibayeva and Danial Saari (2020) “Contestation and collaboration for water resources: comparing the emerging regional water governance of the Aral Sea, Irtysh River, and Mekong River.” Journal of Asian and African Studies [Sage Publications].
    

    
    

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  Assessments

  • Course evaluation reminder Feedback

    Please note that students are encouraged to participate in course evaluation exercise at the end of the course. However, you can provide your feedback and suggestions anytime throughout the course.   

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  Final project (submission period: 9~14 December)

  • Outline and project submission guidelines File
  • Final project submission Assignment

    Upload your final project paper here.