The potential tension between democracy and climate change policy has long been theorised. This module will equip students with a detailed understanding of how this supposed conflict is playing out in practice, as states have begun to develop policy responses to climate change.

 

The module focuses on a challenge which increasingly many political systems are confronting: how to deliver policies to tackle climate change while maintaining support among citizens. Disputes over climate change are becoming central parts of election campaigns, competition between political parties and decision-making within governments. At the same time, the effects of climate change (e.g. extreme weather) are ever more manifest, and themselves impacting political systems across the world.

 

This comparative module draws from a fast-moving and growing field of scholarship to analyse voters' attitudes to climate change, assess how political parties are approaching climate change, and evaluate the role that climate change is starting to play in elections. It will also discuss how to design climate change policies in ways that avoid backlashes from publics, and examine the innovations that many states are making to democratic institutions to account for climate change.

 

Students on this module should aim to:

• Interpret and evaluate primary evidence such as polling data, focus group evidence and party manifesto databases in the subject area.
• Creatively explore key issues, concepts and theories linked to the module via in-depth case studies from across the world.
• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of academic research and debates in areas including public opinion and climate change, party competition and climate change, and elections and climate change through detailed self-directed study.
• Provide high-level and original analysis of the interaction between climate policy and public opinion, including debates around policy feedback and design.

 

Transferable skills:

• Understanding of methods for analysing public opinion (e.g. focus groups and polling).
• Data analysis (e.g. public opinion data).*
• Key employability key skills including time-management and organisation, written communication,
• verbal communication, problem-solving and critical thinking.
• Understanding of climate change policymaking and surrounding politics (for those wishing to work in climate policy).
• Understanding of the policymaking process and policy design.

 

*Though students do NOT need any proficiency in statistics to take this module, and can choose to focus on more qualitative approaches to the subject matter in the module if they prefer.