Teaching

January-April 2010

POLI 372 Global Environmental Politics

Environmental problems don’t recognize national frontiers. Climate change, desertification, deforestation, global water scarcity are all problems that affect us regardless of geographical location. Cross-boundary environmental degradation and over-exploitative access to common pool resources have frequently lead to conflict and confrontation. How can we protect our shared bio-physical resources? This course explores the politics of international environmental problems from a global perspective. We will look at current global environmental issues, including but not limited to climate change, transboundary hazardous waste movement, fisheries depletion and e-waste. This course will provide the student with a broad set of theoretical approaches to the study of international and global environmental politics. We will discuss the role of policymakers, scientists, non-state actors and nation-states in establishing and maintaining environmental protection efforts worldwide.

POLI 352 Comparative Politics of Public Policy

Public policy can be broadly defined as what governments do to attend to societal problems and needs. Situated at the intersection of public policy analysis and comparative politics, this course examines the fundamental question of why do different nations respond to similar societal issues with very different policy strategies. The United States and Canada have chosen substantially different policies in public and private health provision. Why? We will explore the reasons behind this and several other cross-national policy puzzles.This course will provide the student with a set of theoretical and analytical tools to understand and analyze government decision-making processes in different national jurisdictions.

Previously taught

POLI 350A Public Policy

This course will provide the student with an overview of the various political science theories that apply to the public policy-making process. It will also allow students to “get their feet wet” in the policy analysis field. The focus is on the domestic level of Canadian public policy, as POLI 352 (Comparative Politics of Public Policy) examines the comparative dimension using a cross-national lens. We will, however, look at some theoretical debates that draw on cross-national comparisons. We will examine current debates such as the politics of urban sprawl in the Greater Vancouver area, climate change policy in Canada, abortion policy, housing policy, same-sex marriage and legislation, etc.

POLI 351 Environmental Politics and Policy

This course will provide the student with an overview of the many facets of the politics of environmental problems. The focus will be on the domestic level of environmental politics, as POLI 372 (Global Environmental Politics) examines the global dimensions. However, we will use cross-national comparisons to illuminate particular issues. Environmental problems require cooperative behaviour by every actor involved in the social-political-ecological system. Protecting our environment isn’t only a governmental responsibility. Industry and civil society must also share these duties in protecting the global biosphere. This conceptual paradigm (the need for collaboration amongst industry, government and civil society) is used as a framework throughout the course. We will examine current issues such as the politics of climate change in Canada, science and risk, environmental justice and nanotechnology.