Political Institutions and Environmental Policy (ESM
248)
Bren School of Environmental Science and Management
University of California, Santa Barbara
Fall Quarter 2000
Matthew Cahn
M/W 12:30-1:45
Office: 1301D bldg 570
Phone: 893-7296
email: cahn@bren.ucsb.edu
Course Overview
This course examines the
theoretical and applied basis of environmental policymaking. It examines the relationship between
political institutions, interest group interaction, and regulatory responses,
including policy ques, legislative action, implementation and administrative
rulemaking, judicial review, and the interplay between governmental bodies,
regulated constituents, and the public generally. The course will be conducted as a seminar -- that is, the course
will survive on the contributions of seminar participants. Each participant is
expected to come to class prepared to critically analyze the readings and ready
to add to the ongoing class discussion.
Course requirements include
class participation, presentation of case study, and a formal seminar
paper. All class meetings are, of
course, mandatory. If you must miss a
class, please meet with me to arrange an alternative assignment. Readings, of course, are critical. It is expected that students will complete
all reading assignments prior to class for which they are assigned. Students are expected to be prepared to
summarize and discuss the readings, and to integrate the readings into the
ongoing discussion. Since verbal
communication is the keystone to policy competency, students are required to
complete a formal seminar paper (18 - 25 pages). Finally, students will present their papers for the entire class.
Papers may deal with any
topic related to environmental policy, and must utilize course materials as
well as appropriate additional resources.
Using an appropriate case study, the paper should state the issue or
controversy clearly and concisely; discuss the issue in terms of policy theory
and practice; evaluate our knowledge and understanding of the issue; and reach
some conclusions based on that knowledge.
Do not simply summarize what others have said on the issue -- evaluate
their contributions in light of the evolving literature and make your own
contribution. The papers should be
written in scholarly format, suitable for presentation at a professional
conference. Remember to cite all
sources of ideas and information to avoid even the appearance of
plagiarism.
Participation: 25% Oral Presentation: 25% Paper: 50%
Required
Texts
Theodoulou and Cahn
(eds.) Public Policy: The Essential Readings (Prentice Hall, 1995)
Sabatier (ed.) Theories of the Policy Process (Westview Press, 1999)
Kerwin, Rulemaking:
How Government Agencies Write Law and Make Policy (CQ Press, 1999)
Vig & Kraft (eds.) Environmental
Policy: New Directions for the Twenty‑first Century (CQ, 1999)
Recommended Texts
(note:
recommended texts are for those students seeking additional content in specific
areas)
Schneider & Ingram, Policy Design for Democracy
(University Press of Kansas, 1997)
Stone, Policy Paradox: The
Art of Political Decisionmaking (WW Norton and Company, 1997)
Mazmanian &
Sabatier, Implementation and Public
Policy (University Press of America, 1989)
Rosenbaum, Environmental
Politics and Policy (CQ Press, 1999)
Cahn, Environmental
Deceptions (State University of New York Press, 1995)
Course Outline (reading must
be done prior to day assigned)
Week I (9/25-27): The Environment of Public Policy
What
Public Policy is... and isn=t
The
AProper@ Role of
Government
Public
Spheres and Private Spheres
Institutions
and Bureaucracy
Interested
and Non-Interested Publics
Policy
Cues
Readings: Theodoulou
& Cahn, pp. 1-200
Recommended: Schneider
and Ingram
Week II (10/2-4): The Policy Process
Institutional
and Non-institutional Players
The
Policy Game
Equity
vs. Efficiency
Impacts
and Consequences
Readings:
Theodoulou & Cahn, pp. 201-402
Recommended:
Stone
Week III (10/9-11): Advanced Theories of the Policy Process
How
do institutions and policies come together to
solve
problems in the real world?
Readings: Sabatier,
chapters 1-10
Recommended: Mazmanian/
Sabatier
Week IV (10/16-18): Administrative Policymaking: Rulemaking
Enabling
Legislation
Rulemaking
Code
of Federal Regulations
Issues
in Implementation
Readings:
Kerwin, chapters 1-4
Week V (10/23-25): Participation in Rulemaking
Who
Participates
Oversight
Negotiated
Rulemaking
Readings:
Kerwin, chapters 5-7
Week VI (10/30-11/1): Policymaking in Context: Environmental Responses
Environmental
Policy 1970-2000
New
Federalism
Sagebrush
Rebellion
Presidential
Leadership in Environmental Policy
Institutions
in Transition
Readings: Vig & Kraft, chapters 1-8
Recommended: Rosenbaum
Week VII (11/6-8): Dilemmas in Environmental Policy
Market
Incentives and Environmental Policy
Risk
Assessment
Environmental
Justice
Sustainable
Development
International
Issues
Readings: Vig & Kraft, chapters 9-17
Recommended: Cahn
Presentations and Case
Studies for Discussion
The
remainder of the course will include presentations of your papers and
case
studies for critical discussion, integration of course material, and team
problem
solving. You will each present your
paper/ case study, which will
become
the basis for class discussion.
Week
VIII ( 11/13): (11/15):
Week IX (11/20): (11/22):
Week X (11/27) (11/29):
Week XI (12/4): (12/6):
Seminar Papers Due: December 6th.
Back
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Home
Vitae Classes
Special Programs Eco-Literacy
Project Applied
Policy Areas
Research Politics
and Policy Environmental Policy
and Management California
Studies
Matthew Cahn
Department of Political Science
California State University Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8254
(818) 677-3488
matthew.cahn@csun.edu