17.441 | Fall 2007 | Undergraduate, Graduate

International Politics and Climate Change

Readings

Required Texts

Buy at MIT Press Luterbacher, Urs, and Detlef F. Sprinz, eds. International Relations and Global Climate Change. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2001. ISBN: 9780262621496.

McNeill, J. R. Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the Twentieth-century World. New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2000. ISBN: 9780393049176.

Other References

A list of references can be found here. Note that some of the references appear below.

Readings by Session

SES # TOPICS READINGS
Part I. The context
1 Introduction: systems and complexities

Required

Kates, Robert W. “Population, Technology, and the Human Environment: A Thread Through Time.” In Technological Trajectories and the Human Environment. Edited by Jesse H. Ausubel and H. Dale Langford. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1997, pp. 33-55. ISBN: 9780309051330.

McNeill, J. R. Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the Twentieth-century World. New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2000, chapters 1 and 2. ISBN: 9780393049176.

Hardin, Garrett. “The Tragedy of the Commons.” In Economics of the Environment. 5th ed. Edited by Robert N. Stavins. New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2005. ISBN: 9780393927016.

Recommended

Wernick, Iddo K., Robert Herman, Shekhar Govind, and Jesse H. Ausubel. “Materialization and Dematerialization: Measures and Trends.” In Technological Trajectories and the Human Environment. Edited by Jesse H. Ausubel and H. Dale Langford. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1997, pp. 135-156. ISBN: 9780309051330.

2 The legacies of the 20th century

Required

Vitousek, Peter M., Harold A. Mooney, Jane Lubchenco, and Jerry M. Melillo. “Human Domination of Earth’s Ecosystems.” Science New Series 277, no. 5325 (July 25, 1997): 494-499.

Buy at MIT Press Luterbacher, Urs, and Detlef F. Sprinz. “Problems of Global Environmental Cooperation.” Chapter 1 in International Relations and Global Climate Change. Edited by Urs Luterbacher and Detleft F. Spriz. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2001. ISBN: 9780262621496.

McNeill, J. R. Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the Twentieth-century World. New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2000, chapters 3 and 4. ISBN: 9780393049176.

Recommended

Buy at MIT Press Skolnikoff, Eugene B. “Science and Technology: The Sources of Change.” Chapter 7 in Global Accord: Environmental Challenges and International Responses. Edited by Nazli Choucri. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1993. ISBN: 9780262032001.

3 International politics of climate change

Required

Buy at MIT Press Tester, Jefferson W., Elisabeth M. Drake, Michael J. Driscoll, Michael W. Golay, and William A. Peters, eds. Sustainable Energy: Choosing Among Options. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2005, chapters 1, 2, and 6. ISBN: 9780262201537.

Buy at MIT Press Bodansky, Daniel. “The History of the Global Climate Change Regime.” Chapter 2 in International Relations and Global Climate Change. Edited by Urs Luterbacher and Detleft F. Spriz. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2001. ISBN: 9780262621496.

McNeill, J. R. Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the Twentieth-century World. New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2000, chapter 11. ISBN: 9780393049176.

Buy at MIT Press Choucri, Nazli, ed. Global Accord: Environmental Challenges and International Response. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1995, chapter 1. ISBN: 9780262531344.

Recommended

Holling, C. S. “Sustainability: The Cross-Scale Dimension.” In Defining and Measuring Sustainability: The Biogeophysical Foundations. Edited by Mohan Munasinghe and Walter Shearer. Washington, DC: The World Bank, 1995, pp. 65-75. ISBN: 9780821331347.

4 International relations theory

Required

Clark, Ian. Globalization and International Relations Theory. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 1999, chapters 4, 5, and 6. ISBN: 9780198782100.

Buy at MIT Press Rowlands, Ian. “Classical Theories of International Relations.” Chapter 3 in International Relations and Global Climate Change. Edited by Urs Luterbacher and Detleft F. Spriz. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2001. ISBN: 9780262621496.

Buy at MIT Press Litfin, Karen T. “The Greening of Sovereignty: An Introduction.” In The Greening of Sovereignty in World Politics. Edited by Karen T. Litfin. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1998, chapter 1. ISBN: 9780262621236.

Recommended

Buy at MIT Press Clark, William C., Ronald B. Mitchell, and David W. Cash. “Evaluating the Influence of Global Environmental Assessments.” Chapter 1 in Global Environmental Assessments: Information and Influence. Edited by Ronald B. Mitchell, William C. Clark, David W. Cash, and Nancy M. Dickson. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2006. ISBN: 9780262633369.

Part II. The global system
5 The global system – whole and parts

Required

Buy at MIT Press Lofdahl, Corey L. Environmental Impacts of Globalization and Trade: A Systems Study. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2002, chapters 1 and 2. ISBN: 9780262122450.

Buy at MIT Press Paterson, Matthew. “Principles of Justice in the Context of Global Climate Change.” Chapter 6 in International Relations and Global Climate Change. Edited by Urs Luterbacher and Detleft F. Spriz. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2001. ISBN: 9780262621496.

McNeill, J. R. Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the Twentieth-century World. New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2000, chapter 5. ISBN: 9780393049176.

Recommended

Buy at MIT Press Gupta, Aarti. “Problem Framing in Assessment Processes: The Case of Biosafety.” Chapter 3 in Global Environmental Assessments: Information and Influence. Edited by Ronald B. Mitchell, William C. Clark, David W. Cash, and Nancy M. Dickson. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2006. ISBN: 9780262633369.

6 Climate change science – core elements

Required

Buy at MIT Press Luterbacher, Urs. “Simulation Models, Global Environmental Change, and Policy.” Chapter 9 in International Relations and Global Climate Change. Edited by Urs Luterbacher and Detleft F. Spriz. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2001. ISBN: 9780262621496.

Buy at MIT Press Bodansky, Daniel. “International Law and the Design of a Climate Change Regime.” Chapter 10 in International Relations and Global Climate Change. Edited by Urs Luterbacher and Detleft F. Spriz. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2001. ISBN: 9780262621496.

Intergovernmental Panel on Cimate Change (IPCC). IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007.

Recommended

Buy at MIT Press Torrance, Wendy E. F. “Science or Salience: Building an Agenda for Climate Change.” Chapter 2 in Global Environmental Assessments: Information and Influence. Edited by Ronald B. Mitchell, William C. Clark, David W. Cash, and Nancy M. Dickson. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2006. ISBN: 9780262633369.

7 Climate – political connections I – illustrative systems

Required

McNeill, J. R. Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the Twentieth-century World. New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2000, chapters 6 and 7. ISBN: 9780393049176.

Buy at MIT Press Biermann, Frank. “Whose Experts? The Role of Geographic Representation in Global Environmental Assessments.” Chapter 4 in Global Environmental Assessments: Information and Influence. Edited by Ronald B. Mitchell, William C. Clark, David W. Cash, and Nancy M. Dickson. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2006. ISBN: 9780262633369.

Buy at MIT Press Wiegandt, Ellen. “Climate Change, Equity, and International Negotiations.” Chapter 7 in International Relations and Global Climate Change. Edited by Urs Luterbacher and Detleft F. Spriz. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2001. ISBN: 9780262621496.

Recommended

Buy at MIT Press Clark, William C., Ronald B. Mitchell, and David W. Cash. “Evaluating the Influence of Global Environmental Assessments.” Chapter 1 in Global Environmental Assessments: Information and Influence. Edited by Ronald B. Mitchell, William C. Clark, David W. Cash, and Nancy M. Dickson. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2006. ISBN: 9780262633369.

8 Climate – political connections II – theoretical perspectives

Required

Buy at MIT Press Haas, Peter M., with Jan Sundgren. “Evolving International Environmental Law: Changing Practices of National Sovereignty.” In Global Accord: Environmental Challenges and International Responses. Edited by Nazli Choucri. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1993, pp. 401-429. ISBN: 9780262032001.

Ostrom, Elinor. Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1990, chapter 6. ISBN: 9780521405997.

McNeill, J. R. Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the Twentieth-century World. New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2000, chapters 8, 9, and 10. ISBN: 9780393049176.

Recommended

Barzel, Yoram. Economic Analysis of Property Rights. 2nd ed. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1997, chapters 1 and 5. ISBN: 9780521597135.

9 International law and environmental regimes

Required

Ostrom, Elinor. “New Horizons in Institutional Analysis.” American Political Science Review 89, no. 1 (1995): 174-178.

Buy at MIT Press Sprinz, Detlef F., and Martin Weib. “Domestic Politics and Global Climate Policy.” Chapter 4 in International Relations and Global Climate Change. Edited by Urs Luterbacher and Detleft F. Spriz. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2001. ISBN: 9780262621496.

Metrick, Andrew, and Martin L. Weitzman. “Conflicts and Choices in Biodiversity Preservation.” Chapter 28 in Economics of the Environment. 5th ed. Edited by Robert N. Stavins. New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2005. ISBN: 9780393927016.

Recommended

Sands, Philippe. “International Law in the Field of Sustainable Development: Emerging Legal Principles.” In Sustainable Development and International Law. Edited by Winfried Lang. Boston, MA: Graham & Trotman/Martinus Nijhoff, 1995, pp. 53-66. ISBN: 9781859661796.

Part III. International politics of response
10 Global accord – comparative cases I and II

Required

Buy at MIT Press Mitchell, Ronald B. “Institutional Aspects of Implementation, Compliance, and Effectiveness.” Chapter 11 in International Relations and Global Climate Change. Edited by Urs Luterbacher and Detleft F. Spriz. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2001. ISBN: 9780262621496.

Buy at MIT Press Sprinz, Detlef F. “Comparing the Global Climate Regime with Other Global Environmental Accords.” Chapter 12 in International Relations and Global Climate Change. Edited by Urs Luterbacher and Detleft F. Spriz. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2001. ISBN: 9780262621496.

Convention on Biological Diversity. (Locate text on its Web site).

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (Locate text on its Web site).

Kyoto Protocol. (Locate text on its Web site).

Recommended

Buy at MIT Press Luterbacher, Urs, and Carla Norrlof. “The Organization of World Trade and the Climate Regime.” Chapter 13 in International Relations and Global Climate Change. Edited by Urs Luterbacher and Detleft F. Spriz. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2001. ISBN: 9780262621496.

11 What next: highlights and conclusion

Required

Jacoby, Henry D., et al. “Kyoto’s Unfinished Business.” In Economics of the Environment. 5th ed. Edited by Robert N. Stavins. New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2005. ISBN: 9780393927016.

McNeill, J. R. Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the Twentieth-century World. New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2000, chapter 12. ISBN: 9780393049176.

Buy at MIT Press Luterbacher, Urs, and Detlef F. Sprintz. “Conclusions.” Chapter 14 in International Relations and Global Climate Change. Edited by Urs Luterbacher and Detleft F. Spriz. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2001. ISBN: 9780262621496.