Government of Russian Federation
National Research University Higher School of Economics
All-university Department of Public Policy
Syllabus of the course
Environmental Policy and Innovations: comparative analysis
for Master degree in Political Science (030200.68)
for Master degree program “Political Analysis and Public Policy”
Author of the syllabus: Vladimir Slivyak, ; Dr Ksenia Gerasimova,
Approved by the meeting of the all-university Department of Public Policy
on (day/month/year) «_24__»______April______2014
Head of department:
Nina Belyaeva (signature)
Moscow, 2014
This syllabus cannot be used by other university departments and other higher education institutions without the explicit permission of the department of Public Policy.
National Research University – Higher School of Economics
All-university Department of Public Policy
Syllabus of the course Environmental Policy and Innovations: comparative analysis
for Master degree in Political Science (030200.68), Master degree program “Political Analysis and Public Policy”
Scope of Use
The present program outlines minimum demands of students’ knowledge and skills and the content of the course.
The syllabus is intended for the department teaching this course, its teaching assistants, and students of the degree program 030201.68 ‘Political Science’, master’s program ‘Political Analysis and Public Policy’.
This syllabus meets the standards required by:
· Standards of National Research University Higher School of Economics of Federal Masters’ Degree Program 030200.68 “Political Science”,
· Master’s program ‘Political Analysis and Public Policy’ of Federal Master’s Degree Program 030200.68 “Political Science”,
· Curriculum of the master’s program ‘Political Analysis and Public Policy’ as of 2014.
1 Learning Objectives
Learning objectives of the course are:
by using the example of environmental policy to illustrate the aims and targets of public policies, to show how such policies being shaped and to discuss their outcomes;
to study the context in which environmental and innovation policies develop, to compare benefits and drawbacks of such policies in both, developed and developing countries;
to learn the specific characteristics of such policy in Russia;
to identify the leading actors who define major and alternative trends in these policies;
to look at the experience of the social movements influencing environmental policy;
to familiarize with the experience of business affecting such policy, particularly in polluting industries; to analyze the role of the state in definition and realisation of environmental and innovation policies;
to review new trends in environmental and innovation policies in relation to new challenges, such as climate change and new biotechnologies;
to obtain basic skills in evaluation and project management in the field of environmental policy.
2 Learning outcomes
As a result of studying of discipline the student should
· Know goals and objectives of environmental policy, forms of environmental policy in major countries, the most influencing actors in field of environmental policy;
· To be able to identify the direction for development for environmental policy in order to bring changes to improve environmental situation;
· Make analysis of environmental policy in order to improve it, also to improve various other policies through including environmental priorities in it.
3 Role of the discipline within the structure of Master program
This course is a professional one, taught in the second year of master’s program ‘Political Analysis and Public Policy’ for specialization ‘Political Analysis and Public Policy’. This is an optional course that require prior knowledge in political science and public policy analysis.
This course based on knowledge and competences that were provided by the following disciplines:
· Theory and methodology of political research,
· Modern political science,
· Quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection & analysis
· Research seminar “Methods of organization and developing of public policy analysis”
The following knowledge and competences are needed to study the discipline:
· Knowledge of political theory, methodology of political research, main ways and institutes of political science future development, public policy concepts (public policy, public interest, public good, democracy, state, civil society, power & authority),
· Competences of conducting public policy analysis, using of quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection & analysis for different subjects ant tasks of applied policy research.
4 Course Plan
The course is designed as an illustration of possible analysis of public policies, identifying global and national context of environmental policy, global public actors, global policy problems, global public policy alternatives and implementation and evaluation of public policy. The basic concepts of the course: environmental and innovation policy & decision-making process.
The instruments for research. Criteria for research and analysis of environmental policies:
1. goals and objectives;
2. identification of interests and interest groups and their lobbying strategies;
3. national policy compared to international standards (UN, etc);
4. implementation of policy and alternatives;
5. space for further development (strengthening norms).
№ / Topic / Total hours / Contact hours / Independent students’ work /Lectures / Seminars /
1. / Introduction to Environmental and Innovation Policy / 21 / 5 / 2 / 14
2. / Comparative Analysis of national Environmental Policies (in developed and developing countries, and Russia) / 21 / 5 / 2 / 14
3. / Global Public Policy Actors in Environmental and Innovation politics (Civil Society and Business) / 21 / 5 / 2 / 14
4. / Global Environmental Challenges and Directions for Innovations (Climate change and barriers to sustainable development) / 20 / 5 / 1 / 14
5. / Discussion of alternatives in environmental and innovations policies (clean technologies vs nuclear, organic agriculture and genetic technologies, green economy and eco-innovations) / 19 / 4 / 1 / 14
6. / Practical skills (Monitoring Evaluation in Environmental Policy, Writing policy briefs) / 21 / 4 / 1 / 16
7. 1 / Consultation before Examination / 21 / 4 / 1 / 16
Total: / 144 / 32 / 10 / 102
5 Requirements and Grading
Type of grading / Type of work / 1st year / Type of work / Characteristics1 / 2 / 3 / 4
Ongoing / Independent work / 1-8 / 1-8 / oral / Homework/Work in the class debates. Group and individual presentations and active work in the discussions in the class.
Essay / 6 / written / Presentation for Practical Skills Lecture. A simulated application towards the consultancy in international organisation.
Final / Essay / 8 / written / 4000 words, discussion/research paper on the topic agreed with the supervisor
The will be 1 hour consultation before the submission of the final essay, also students may receive answers to their questions via e-mail.
Teacher should provide an opportunity for the student to do an additional assignment if the student did not fulfill the required main forms of course control (for various reasons). Additional assignment is also provided if a student missed more than 20% of classes. Grade for additional assignment should be included in the course grade accumulative formula.
If the student misses the deadline for a course assignment, the teacher should still accept this assignment after deadline ( but not later than the date of the exam), grade it and include in the course grade accumulative formula. In such cases the teacher may choose to decrease the grade for the late submission of the assignment (up to 2 points lower out of 10).
5.1 Course Evaluation Criteria
Students will prepare a final essay (4000) on chosen topics agreed with the supervisor. The grade will be assessed on the following criteria: knowledge of the general subject, strength of the presented argument, clear structure and novelty of research. The presentation for the Practical Skills lecture will be assessed by the following criteria: it answers all questions, and it provides an argumentative basis. All forms of control are graded on a 10- point scale.
6 Course Description
Topic 1. Introduction to Environmental Policy
Introduction to the course, its main objects and structure. Opening discussion on contemporary environmental issues and the need to innovate. Concepts of environment, environmentalism, conservation, ecology and innovation. Did the Nature end? Problem of alienation between humanity and Nature. Discussion of drivers of change (population growth, consumption patterns, waste, energy and CO²). 'Ecological dictatorship' or 'ecological democracy'. Overview of main forces and actors involved. Environmental crises, major UN conferences (Stockholm, Rio, Kyoto, Johanessburg, Rio+20). Concept of Sustainability. Creation of UNCED and UNEP. Critical analysis of their resolutions, states' positions and INGOs' involvement.
Core reading:
Ramachandra Guha and Juan Martinez-Alier (1997) Varieties of Environmentalism. L.: Earthscan.
Steffen, W. Crutzen, P. J. and McNeill, J. R. (2007) ‘The Anthropocene: are humans now overwhelming the great forces of nature?’, Ambio 36(8) 614-21.
Optional reading:
Hannah, L., et al. (1994) ‘A preliminary inventory of human disturbance of world ecosystems’, Ambio 23: 246–50.
Imhoff, M. L., et al. (2004) ‘Global patterns in human consumption of net primary production’, Nature 429: 870–3.
Lomborg, Bjørn (2001) The Skeptical Environmentalist: measuring the real state of the World, Cambridge University Press.
Palumbi, S. R. (2001) ‘Humans as the World’s Greatest Evolutionary Force’, Science 293(5536): 1786–90.
Rands, M.R. et al., (2010) ‘Biodiversity conservation: challenges beyond 20910’, Science 329: 1298-1303.
Rockström, J. et al. (2009) A safe operating space for humanity, Nature 461: 472-5.
Worster, D. (1985) Nature’s Economy: a history of ecological ideas, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Students' Work:
Discussion of the role of innovations play in ability to meet the demands of growing populations and manage finite natural resources.
Topic 2.1 Environmental policy in Russia
History and present, how that policy was developed through the time (especially after USSR collapsed), who and how influences environmental policies at various levels (local, national, international), the position of government and innovation policies.
Required readings:
Slivyak V. The president’s nature: What kind of environmental leadership can we expect from Vladimir Putin in his new term at Russia’s helm? Bellona, 2012 http://www.bellona.org/articles/articles_2012/inaug_slivyak_comment
David Mack, Go Green or Bust: Russia’s Environmental Challenges. Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2011 http://csis.org/blog/go-green-or-bust-russias-environmental-challenges
Nikitina E. Kotove V. Reorganisation ofEnvironmentalPolicyin Russia: The Decade of Success and Failures in Implementation and Perspective Quests. 2002 http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=318685
Optional readings:
Patrik Söderholm, Environmental Policy in Transition Economies: The Effectiveness of Pollution Charges. Luleå University of Technology, MIT http://web.mit.edu/ceepr/www/publications/workingpapers/99006.pdf
Environmental Standards for Operations of Oil and Gas Companies Acting in Russia, on its Continental Shelf, and within it Exclusive Economic Zone developed by Russian Non-governmental Nature Conservation Organizations, Moscow 2005 http://www.wwf.ru/resources/publ/book/eng/109/
Julian Agyeman, Yelena Ogneva-Himmelberger, Environmental Justice and Sustainability in the Former Soviet Union. MIT Press. 2009.
Students' homework: Individual presentations on possible improvements to the Russian environmental policies.
Topic 2.2 Comparison of Environmental Policies in Developed and Developing countries
Discussion of issues in management of the environment. 'Tragedy of the Commons'. Policies in common property regimes. Environmental policies in developed countries, competition for resources and current trends. Overview of common trends and existing policy instruments in the USA and the EC. Crisis in the Third World. Growth and industrialization, poverty, pollution and environment degradation. Conservation as development and inclusion of indigenous knowledge in developing sustainable solutions.
Required readings:
Adams (William) (2004) Green Development. Environment and Sustainability in the Third World. L.
Dietz, T., Ostrom, E., Stern, P.C., (2003) The struggle to govern the commons, Science 302: 1907-1912.
Hardin, G., (1968) The Tragedy of the Commons, Science 162(3859): 1243-1248.
Optional reading:
Guha, R., Martinez-Alier, J., 1997. Varieties of Environmentalism: Essays North and South. Earthscan, London.
Policymaking for Ecological Sustainability in Federal States - the Examples of the German Bundeslander and the U.S. States, by Kirsten Jörgensen, AICGS/DAAD Working Paper Series, 2002
http://www.aicgs.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/jorgensen.pdf
How Germany Became Europe’s Green Leader: A Look at Four Decades of Sustainable Policymaking, by Ralph Buehler, Arne Jungjohann, Melissa Keeley, Michael Mehling. Solutions, Volume 2, Issue 5, Oct 2011. http://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/node/981
Germany’s Environmental Transformation: From Pollution Haven to Environmental Leader, by Miranda Schreurs, December 2009, AICGS Transatlantic Perspectives
http://www.aicgs.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/schreurs.atp09.pdf
Federalism and Environmentalism in the United States and Germany, by R. Andreas Kraemer, Miranda A. Schreurs, 31 AICGS Policy Report, 2007
http://www.aicgs.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/polrep31.pdf
Barry C. Field. Environmental Policy; 1 edition (August 5, 2006).
Lake, Ian et al (2012) Climate Change and Food Security: Impacts for Developed Countries, in Environmental Health Perspectives. Vol. 120, N 11, pp.1520-1526.
Howlett M. Beyond Legalism. Policy Ideas, Implementation Style and Annulation Based Conservation in Canadian and the U.S. Environmental Policies. Vol. 20N 3, pp.305-329.
Walter A. Rosenbaum. Environmental Politics and Policy. CQ Press College; 8th edition (August 1, 2010)
Norman J Vig. Michael E Kraft. Environmental Policy: New Directions for the Twenty-First Century 8th Edition. CQ Press (May 15, 2012)
Pr. Richard Balme. The Politics of Environmental Justice in China. Sciences Po – Centre d’Etudes Europeennes and Paris School of International Affairs, Tsinghua University, School of Public and Management, Beijing. 2011 http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1901849
Rainer Quitzow, Holger Bär, Klaus Jacob, Asia at a Crossroads: New Trends in Environmental Governance in India, China, Vietnam and Indonesia. Environmental Policy Research Centre (FFU), Freie Universität Berlin 2011. http://www.esee2011.org/registration/fullpapers/esee2011_e58aea_1_1304959634_2160_2308.pdf
Elizabeth C. The River Runs Black: The Environmental Challenge to China's Future. Cornell University. 2010
http://www.amazon.com/River-Runs-Black-Environmental-University/dp/0801476135/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345040455&sr=1-1
Williams, G and Mawdsley, E (2006) ‘Postcolonial environmental justice: government and governance
in India’, Geoforum 37, 660-670
Prasad P. Environmental Protection: the Role of Liability in India. Economic and Political Weekly. Vol.39 n3 pp.257-269.
Judith Shapiro. Mao's War against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China (Studies in Environment and History). Cambridge University Press. 2001
http://books.google.ru/books/about/Mao_s_War_against_Nature.html?id=k7FdM07QfMoC&redir_esc=y