The protection and promotion of human rights is one of the most important political developments of the post-war global order. The human rights obligations of...

International Law and Human Rights (PUBL0032)

This course is designed to develop your skills as a researcher, such as academic writing and communication skills, and prepare you for your dissertation and...

Research Methods 1: Research Skills (PSYC0108)

This course is designed to develop your skills as a researcher, such as academic writing and communication skills, and prepare you for your dissertation and career beyond your MRes. Most sessions will consist in a short lecture followed by practicals. Two external speakers will deliver sessions on systematic bibliographic search and software for programming experiments in psychology.

Comparative Politics|Environmental Politics|International Relations and Politics|Political Economy|Politics|Public Policy|Sustainability

climate change|comparative politics|public policy|voters|interest groups

This is a “Hot Topics” module. It provides an introduction to climate change politics, especially the politics of climate policy design, adoption,...

Climate Change: Politics and Policy (POLS0054)

This is a “Hot Topics” module. It provides an introduction to climate change politics, especially the politics of climate policy design, adoption, and implementation. We will focus on the role of key political actors at both the international and national levels – the UN, politicians, voters, interest groups, and social movements – in shaping policy outcomes.
We will ask a range of questions, including:
• Why is the climate changing? What are the impacts? Why should we care about climate change?
• What have economists recommended we do? What policy tools are available?
• Is capitalism the problem? Is our economic system incompatible with a healthy environment?
• What is a just response to climate change?
• Why have countries largely failed to cooperate?
• Do voters and politicians care about climate change?
• Has the fossil fuel industry been the largest obstacle to action?
• Do social movements like Fridays for the Future and Extinction Rebellion have an impact on climate policy?
• Are green new deals a good idea? How can we achieve a just transition?
By the end of the course, you should have a clear understanding of the political challenges that climate policy entails and be equipped to analyze climate policy and politics using tools and concepts from political science.