Environmental Politics and Policy

California State University Northridge at Channel Islands

Political Science 461
Spring 2000

Professor Matthew Cahn                                
Thursday:  1:00 - 3:50 pm
Bell Tower Faculty Offices                                
Th 11:00 - 1:00 pm & by appointment
Phone:  (805) 437-8570
matthew.cahn@csun.edu

 

Will humankind survive?   Who knows?  ...How many of us would be willing to give up some minor convenience -- say the use of aerosols -- in the hope that this might extend the life of man on earth by a hundred years?  Suppose we knew with a high degree of certainty that humankind could not survive a thousand years unless we gave up our wasteful diet of meat, abandoned all pleasure driving, cut back on every use of energy that was not essential to that maintenance of a bare minimum.  Would we care enough for posterity to pay the price of its survival?   (Robert Heilbroner)

 

Course Description

 

Over the past thirty years environmental quality has emerged as a critical challenge facing policy makers.  With the increasing degradation of environmental resources, difficult choices will have to be made by citizens.

 

This course evaluates the environmental policy process.  Specifically, what is public policy and how are policy choices made?  How can political choices increase or decrease environmental degradation?  And finally, who benefits from existing environmental legislation, and who suffers?

 

Specific attention will be given to the political and economic issues surrounding energy, air and water pollution, and hazardous and toxic waste.  Ultimately, the course will critically evaluate various policy alternatives that attempt to resolve the environmental crisis.

 

Required Texts

            Rosenbaum: Environmental Politics and Policy  (CQ Press, 1998, 4th Edition)

Vig & Kraft:  Environmental Policy (CQ Press, 2000, 4th Edition)

Cahn & O=Brien: Thinking About the Environment (M.E. Sharpe, 1996)

 

Course Requirements

 

Participants are expected to attend class regularly and to keep up with assigned readings.  Further, each participant is expected to participate actively in class discussions and projects.

 

Midterm:                      25%                

Participation:                 15%                

Semester Project:         30%                            

Final Exam:                   30%

 

Semester Project

 

The semester project can be fulfilled in two ways.  A 10-12 page paper exploring some topic related to environmental policy is one possibility.  The paper should critically analyze the issue, keeping in mind the political and economic implications.  Remember, the paper should be analytic, not merely descriptive.  The paper must use scholarly sources, including political science journals and environmental research articles.  Popular magazines  are not appropriate.  Speak with instructor about appropriate references and sources.

 

The second option is an internship.  In lieu of a paper students may fulfill the semester project by doing an internship with an environmentally related organization.  A five page paper describing the internship experience is required.  Instructor approval is required.

 

                             *** Papers are due in Class Wednesday 5/18 or before ***

 

Semester Outline

 

Section I:         Introduction to Environmental Policy

2/3-10:                        Dilemmas of Environmental Policy;

Public Policy Models;

Environmental Regulatory Subsystems;

(Rosenbaum 1-2; Vig & Kraft 1)

 

Section II:        Theories of Environmental Policymaking

2/17-24:                       The Evolution of Environmental Policy;

Theories of Environmental Policymaking;

(Rosenbaum 3-5; Vig & Kraft 2-4)

Section III:      Thinking About the Environment

3/2-9:                           Law & Property;

The Green Critique;

(Cahn and O=Brien, Parts I-II and Part III)

 

Section IV:       Air & Water Policy

3/16-23:                       Air & Water Pollution;

Air & Water Pollution Controls;

(Rosenbaum 6; and the Air Quality Management Plan --

See http://www.aqmd.gov/aqmp/97aqmp/

Use Netscape in CSUCI Lab to view -- these are large files)

 

3/30:     Midterm Exam 2:00 pm

 

Section V:        Solid, Hazardous, and Toxic Waste

4/6-13:                         Solid Waste:  The Nation's Garbage;

Integrated Waste Management;

Hazardous Waste & Toxic Waste;

SUPERFUND & other Policies;

(Rosenbaum 7; Vig & Kraft 11) 

4/20:     Spring Break

 

Section VI:       Energy Policy

4/27:                            Energy Policy in Perspective;

The Consequences of Fossil Fuels;

Alternative Energies;

(Rosenbaum 8)

 

Section VII:     Global Environmental Policy

5/4:                              Environmental Policy in the

            International Arena;

(Rosenbaum 10; Vig & Kraft 13 & 15)

 

Section VIII:    Dilemmas in Environmental Policymaking

5/11:                            Evaluating Policy Success;

Economics & the Environment;

Risk-Based Decisionmaking;

(Cahn and O=Brien chs. 28-34; Vig & Kraft 9 & 10)

 

                                               *** PAPERS DUE 5/18 or before ***

 

Section IX:       Alternatives:  Towards the Sustainable Society

5/18:                            The Steady State;

Renewable Resource Management;

Alternative Technologies;

 (Cahn and O=Brien chs. 35-39; Vig & Kraft 12, 16-17)

 

 

                               FINAL EXAM AS SCHEDULED    ** Confirm in Class **

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Matthew Cahn
Department of Political Science
California State University Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA  91330-8254
(818) 677-3488
matthew.cahn@csun.edu