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Green Politics - POL00010H

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  • Department: Politics and International Relations
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24

Module aims

Environmental problems are now firmly on the political agenda. The stark threat to the planet from climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution cannot be ignored by governments, political parties, businesses or individual citizens. The environment poses distinctive challenges that rarely have easy solutions.

This module examines the politics of the environment, providing a comprehensive introduction to green ideas and environmental activism. It explores environmental ethics and green political thought, assessing the relationship between 'green ideas' and other political doctrines. It examines the development of green parties, how established political parties have responded to the environmental challenge, and the many different forms of environmental campaigning and protest.

Module learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of different ways of thinking politically about the environment, including ethical questions about how humans ought to act towards nature, the distinctiveness of green political ideas and their relationship with other ideologies.
  • Critically apply an alternative (ecological) framework to the examination of some of the broader themes of political investigation, including 'reform versus revolution'; 'democracy versus authoritarianism'
  • Evaluate different ways of achieving a sustainable society, focusing on collective action by green parties, established political parties and the environmental movement.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Students will receive written timely feedback on their formative assessment. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor's feedback and guidance hours.

Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment no later than 25 working days after submission; and the module tutor will hold a specific session to discuss feedback, which students can also opt to attend. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor's regular feedback and guidance hours.

Indicative reading

N Carter (2018), The Politics of the Environment 3rd Edition (Cambridge, C.U.P.)


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.