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The Politics of Climate Change

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The Politics of Climate Change THE POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE GOV 94YM – SPRING 2018 – MONDAY, 2-4, CGIS-KNAFEL K107 YASCHA MOUNK Description: Most scientists believe that we need to take immediate action to mitigate the effects of climate change. But politicians at both the national and the international level have, so far, done little to curb carbon emissions. In this seminar, we draw on a broad array of readings to understand the empirical and normative challenges posed by global warming. Why have political actors found it so difficult to agree on an effective response to climate change? And what would a just response to global warming look like? After gaining a brief overview over the science of global warming in the first part of the course, we look at the findings of the growing literature of empirical political science in the second part. In particular, we study three of the challenges—relating to public opinion, international cooperation, and economics—that make a more muscular response so difficult. To this end, we read empirical work employing a host of different methodologies, and consider the respective roadblocks posed by political psychology and the dynamics of public opinion; game theory and the need for international cooperation; and economic disagreements about the appropriate timing and extent of climate interventions. In the second part of the course, we look at the ethics of climate change to investigate the normative questions raised by global warming. Every possible political option for tackling climate change—or failing to tackle climate change—distributes risks and burdens in a distinctive manner. This raises a host of questions about distributive justice. According to what principles should we distribute the right to pollute? What do we owe to people who are far away in space (like the residents of Africa and Asia who are most likely to be adversely affected by climate change) or time (like the future generations who will suffer most from rampant global warming)? And what weight should we assign to non-human interests, like the possible extinction of other animal species? Building on the insights from the empirical and normative literature about climate change, we end the course by surveying concrete policy options. Traditionally, most environmentalists have championed a focus on the “mitigation” of climate change: they have insisted that the only satisfactory response to climate change is to minimize the extent of global warming by a return to less resource-intensive economic arrangements and lifestyles. More recently, a growing movement of “eco-modernists” has championed a focus on “adaptation”: they embrace technology and capitalism, and seek to use technological and economic levers to prepare us for a warmer world. We seek to evaluate the respective attractions and perils of each of these positions, in part by looking at the controversial idea of geoengineering—the proposal to lower the earth’s temperature by dispersing small particles in the stratosphere. Course Policies: The Politics of Climate Change – Spring 2018 – DRAFT Syllabus – Yascha Mounk 1 Readings: The readings for this course are designed to be manageable. This is because we will be discussing each assigned text in detail during class. I therefore expect that you carefully read all assignments for each session. But you have a “get-out-of-jail-free” card. Papers, mid-terms, extra-curricular activities and, well, life happens. So, once during the term, you are welcome to email me before class to say that you haven’t managed to do the readings; your participation grade will not be affected. Leading Discussion: Each student will be responsible for leading the class through one of the assigned readings. This is not a standard presentation: I don’t expect you to present your own thoughts on the reading, or even to talk very much. Rather, I would like you to facilitate discussion for ten to fifteen minutes. Your responsibility is to read the text very carefully and to prepare a number of questions about it. Your goal is for your classmates to understand the argumentative strategy employed in the text as well as possible, and to start debating how persuasive they find it. Meetings: Before each paper is due, we will have a one-on-one meeting to discuss what you would like to write about, which texts you will use to build your case, and how you will structure your argument. Don’t worry if your ideas are still preliminary or a little chaotic at this stage: the only purpose of these meetings is to help you write the best possible essay. Naturally, I will also be available in office hours throughout the term to deepen class discussions, go over assigned readings, and brainstorm ideas for your essays. Draft Exchange: There are two very simple ways to improve your writing: 1) write a draft of your paper, let it lie for a few days, then thoroughly revise it before handing it in; and 2) get a friend to give you feedback. To encourage these habits, you will be assigned an “editor” in the class. Four days before the official due date of your first paper, you and your editor will exchange papers and provide each other with written comments. This should give you plenty of time to revise your paper and incorporate your editor’s advice. The Politics of Climate Change – Spring 2018 – DRAFT Syllabus – Yascha Mounk 2 Collaboration: Discussion and the exchange of ideas are essential to academic work. For assignments in this course, you are encouraged to consult with your classmates on the choice of paper topics and to share sources. You may find it useful to discuss your chosen topic with your peers, particularly if you are working on the same topic as a classmate. You will also share work with your assigned editor. However, you should ensure that any written work you submit for evaluation is the result of your own research and writing and that it reflects your own approach to the topic. You must also adhere to standard citation practices in political science and properly cite any books, articles, websites, lectures, etc. that have helped you with your work. If you received any help with your writing (feedback on drafts, etc), you must also acknowledge this assistance. Assignments: You will be required to write two papers and one annotated bibliography for this class. A short paper, which discusses the current state of empirical political science literature about some specific aspect of, or question raised by, climate change; an annotated bibliography, which briefly summarizes some of the literature you hope to engage in your substantive research paper; and the final paper, in which you make your own contribution to one of the key debates about climate change. This paper can make either an empirical, a normative or a policy contribution. (We will discuss what that might mean in much greater detail toward the end of the term.) In the last class of the term, you will present a proposal for your final research paper to the whole group. This will give us all a chance to see the breadth of issues members of the class are working on—and enable each of you to get the feedback of your peers as you work on developing and refining your paper. Your grade will be determined by three components: Class Participation and Leading Discussion: 20% First Paper (Short): 30% Final Paper (Long): 50% The Politics of Climate Change – Spring 2018 – DRAFT Syllabus – Yascha Mounk 3 Readings: Part 1 – The Science of Climate Change Session 1 (01/22) – Introduction No readings. Session 2 (01/29) – The Effects of Climate Change? Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: “Climate Change 2014 Synthesis Report: Summary for Policy Makers” Mark Maslin: Climate Change: A Very Short Introduction Jonathan A. Patz et al.: “Impact of regional climate change on human health” Robert O. Keohane: “The Global Politics of Climate Change: Challenge for Political Science” Part 2 – Empirical Political Science: Why It Is So Difficult to Combat Climate Change Session 3 (02/05) – The Public Opinion Challenge Larry Bartels: “The Irrational Electorate” R. J. Brulle et al.: “Shifting public opinion on climate change: an empirical assessment of factors influencing concern over climate change in the U.S., 2002–2010” P. J. Egan et al.: “Turning personal experience into political attitudes: the effect of local weather on Americans’ perceptions about global warming” A. M. Jacobs et al.: “Why do citizens discount the future? Public opinion and the timing of policy consequences” P. G. Bain et al.: “Promoting pro-environmental action in climate change deniers” David Roberts: “Does hope inspire more action on climate change than fear? We don’t know” Recommended: Oreskes and Conway: Merchants of Doubt, pp. 169-215, 230-265. The Politics of Climate Change – Spring 2018 – DRAFT Syllabus – Yascha Mounk 4 Session 4 (02/12) – The Coordination Challenge: International Negotiation and The “Prisoner’s Dilemma” Kenneth A. Oye: “Explaining Cooperation under Anarchy: Hypotheses and Strategies” A. Thompson: “Management under anarchy: the international politics of climate change.” J. Hovi, D. F. Sprinz & A. Underdal: “Implementing long-term climate policy: time inconsistency, domestic politics, international anarchy.” Elinor Ostrom: “A Polycentric Approach for Coping with Climate Change” Recommended: J. Hovi, & Holtsmark, B. (2006). “Cap-and-trade or carbon taxes? The feasibility of enforcement and the effects of non-compliance.” H. Ward, F. Grundig & E. R. Zorick: “Marching at the Pace of the Slowest: A Model of International Climate-Change Negotiations” No class meeting on 02/19 because of Presidents Day! Session 5 (02/26) – The Economic Challenge William Nordhaus: The Climate Casino: Risk, Uncertainty and Economics for a Warming World, Chapters 15, 16, 18 and 19. Richard S.
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