Swedish environmental politics in a comparative perspective

The course is a core course in Political Science and given as a single subject course. It can also be a part of the Programme in Environmental Social Science (SMIL). The course is given as a single subject course for international exchange students.

The overarching goal of the course is to develop theoretical understanding in order to analyze environmental policy challenges from the perspective of political science.

The course is based on different thematic areas. Each theme includes an introductory lecture, independent study, and analysis/reflection in the form of a discussion seminar.

The discussion seminars are based around student presentations on pre-assigned research topics. Each student is expected to prepare a presentation for one seminar, and to participate actively in the others. The course concludes with an exam.

The course is suitable for students who are preparing upcoming theses within the field of environmental policy, but is also aimed at students who are interested in gaining a broad, research-based understanding of environmental policy in general.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Describe different aspects of Swedish environmental politics; the historical emergence of new policies to manage environmental degradation, how Swedish environmental politics is currently organized (with a focus on opinion formation, parties and decision-making processes), how policies are implemented (with a focus on the Swedish public administration), and how such policies relate to Sweden’s position in the EU and Sweden’s role in the international system.

Competence and skills

• Compare empirical cases of existing environmental politics or policiesIndependently and in group work present different aspects of Swedish environmental politics.
• Critically discuss how the Swedish case differs in comparison to environmental politics in other settings.
• Independently write an academic paper on this theme in accordance with good academic practice, including proper citation technique and use of references.

Judgement and approach

• Scrutinize and critically assess in writing and orally your own and others assignments.

The teaching consists of lectures and seminars.

Language of instruction: English

Students will be evaluated based on their performance on group work as well as individual assignments. The course will take advantage of interactions between Swedish and international students to form groups for a joint assignment in the form of a case study.

There are four forms of assessment on this course, which must be
completed in order to receive a Pass. Students will be required to 
1) actively participate in the two seminars (0,5 hec) per seminar, and 
2), for one of the two seminars submit a written group assignment and make an oral seminar presentation of the group assignment (1,5 hec),
3) submit a written essay at the end of the course (5 hec) and
4) actively participate in the final essay seminar by both presenting one’s own essay and acting as discussant.

Completion of examined assignments are permitted. If the student does not submit the completion on time, the student will be failed on the assignment.

A student who is not able to attend the compulsory oral seminar presentation can do an alternative assignment. The assignment will be described in the course guide.

Restrictions on the use of generative AI are stated in the course guide. Students are obliged to inform themselves about the current rules for examining elements such as assignments, seminar papers and other forms of exams in the course in question.

If a student, who has failed the same examined component twice, wishes to change examiner before the next examination, a written application shall be sent to the department responsible for the course and shall be granted unless there are special reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6, Section 22 of Higher Education Ordinance).

If a student has received a recommendation from the University of Gothenburg for study support for students with disabilities, the examiner may, where it is compatible with the learning outcomes of the course and provided that no unreasonable resources are required, decide to allow the student to sit an adjusted exam or alternative form of assessment.

In cases where a course has been discontinued or has undergone major changes, the student shall normally be guaranteed at least three examination occasions (including the ordinary examination) during a period of at least one year from the last time the course was given.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

To obtain the Pass grade, the student must receive a Pass on all assessments. To obtain Pass with Distinction for the entire course, the student must receive a Pass with Distinction on the essay and Pass on all other assignments.

The student should show a high level of independence in relation to the course literature. The student must, besides showing a good knowledge of the content of this literature, have an excellent ability to reflect critically on Swedish environmental politics in a comparison with other contexts that demonstrate high academic standards in terms of structure and language.

The students will be given the opportunity to do a course evaluation. The results of evaluation will be communicated both to previous and incoming students.