Political Science 334: Politics of the Environment
Fall 2013, Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. – 9:40 p.m.
Classroom: ENS 291
Instructor: James Murren, M.E.S.
Office: Adams Humanities 4107
Email: [email protected]
Office hours: Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., and by appointment
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Course Description
The history of the environmental movement and environmental policy in the United
States of America is the primary focus of this course. We will examine the beginnings of
citizens’ environmental activism and government response, as well as study the varying
theories and approaches used by stakeholder groups in shaping policy. The course is
designed around discussing key environmental issues presented as case studies that have
been at the forefront of U.S. environmental politics in the twentieth and twenty-first
centuries, e.g. clean water, clean air, resource management, environmental justice,
endangered species, climate change. In addition to attaining a broader view and an
informed understanding of U.S. environmental politics, the course will also introduce
current international environmental issues.
Classroom Behavior
All electronic devices should be turned off during class. If I see you using such devices, I
will ask you to leave the classroom. You may return the following week. Exceptions for
the use of electronics may be permitted if approved by me. Come talk to me about a need
for such exceptions.
I encourage a classroom of open dialogue that is respectful of varying viewpoints, though
I have zero tolerance for opinions that are offensive and degrading. Disruptive behavior
or offensive/degrading behavior may result in a final grade deduction.
Given the time length of each class, we will take a short break after the first hour or so. If
it becomes a habit for students to depart at the break and not return to class, we will then
not have a break after the first hour or so.
Required Readings
The following book, available at the university bookstore, is the only one that you will
need to purchase for this course:
Layzer, Judith A. The Environmental Case: Translating Values into Policy, Third
Edition. CQ Press. 2011.
Other required readings will be available online at no cost, or as handouts provided by the
instructor. I will announce additional readings not listed in this syllabus in class and post
them to Blackboard on the Tuesday prior to when we will discuss them in class. If there
is a paper handout given in class, and you miss that class, it is your responsibility to get a
copy of the reading.
Course Requirements
There will be two major essay exams: a midterm and a final. Each exam is worth 25%
of your final grade.
You will write an eight-page paper on a current environmental issue of your choice. The
paper will examine what’s at the center of the issue, as well as varying arguments being
made to address it. You will then offer your solution to address the issue. The paper is
worth 25% of your final grade. Specific details for the paper will be provided by 10
September class, if not before.
At the end of each chapter of the required book for this course, there are Questions to
Consider. Select three sets of questions over the duration of the semester and answer two
of the questions in each set. Answers to each question likely will not exceed more than a
one-page response. Each set is due at the beginning of the class for which the reading
was assigned. One set of responses is worth 5% of your grade, the three sets adding up to
15% of your final grade.
Quizzes on the readings will be unannounced. Combined, they will be worth 10% of
your final grade. I will drop your lowest quiz grade. If you are absent from class and
miss a quiz (exceptions may occur—see below), it will be considered a zero grade and
will be the dropped quiz.
Grading breakdown:
Midterm exam – 25%, (22 October 2013)
Issue paper – 25%, (Due: 26 November 2013)
Chapter responses – 15% (Due: all 3 sets due by 3 December 2013)
Final exam – 25%, (TBA, finals week 12-18 December 2013)
Quizzes – 10% (unannounced dates)
Honesty
Cheating, plagiarism, copying, dishonesty of any kind related to academic integrity will
not be tolerated. No exceptions. If you are unsure about something, talk to me about it.
If it is determined that you are in violation of university policy with regard to matters of
academic dishonesty for this course, you will receive an F for the course. I will also
report the violation to the university. For details on cheating and plagiarism, see
http://senate.sdsu.edu/policy/pfacademics.html#Cheating
Goals for GE Courses in the Social and Behavioral Sciences
Goal 1: Explore and recognize basic terms, concepts, and domains of the social and
behavioral sciences.
Goal 2: Comprehend diverse theories and methods of the social and behavioral sciences.
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Goal 3: Identify human behavioral patterns across space and time and discuss their
interrelatedness and distinctiveness.
Goal 4: Enhance understanding of the social world through the application of conceptual
frameworks from the social and behavioral sciences to first-hand engagement with
contemporary issues.
Other Considerations
The Issue Paper and Chapter Responses cannot be turned in after the due dates.
If you have a university-approved reason for missing a class that happens to fall on an
exam or quiz date, we will work together to best resolve how you can make up what you
missed in a timely manner.
There are times in life when unforeseen situations arise and interfere with our regular
routine. If this happens to you and is relative to this class’ schedule, bring it to my
attention as soon as possible.
Course Schedule
27 August: Introduction to Course
3 September: Overview of U.S. Environmental Politics
Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act
Reading: Layzer, pp. 1 – 51
10 September: Communities, Activism, and Environmental Justice
Readings: Layzer, pp. 56 – 105
Websites listed on pages 78-79
CA Environmental Justice Alliance,
http://caleja.org/about-us/
Appalachia Mining and Mountain Top Removal,
http://ilovemountains.org/news
17 September: Managing Resources on Public Lands
Readings: Layzer, pp. 109 – 168
Websites listed on pages 135 and 168
24 September: Managing Resources on Public Lands (continued)
Readings: Layzer, pp. 174 – 235
Websites listed on page 235
Ellenwood, et al. Managing United States Public
Lands in Response to Climate Change: A View From
the Ground Up
http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/
admin/publication_files/2012.03.pdf
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1 October: Wise Use Movement and Property Rights
Readings: Layzer, pp. 383 - 409
8 October: Managing Fisheries
Readings: Layzer, pp. 240 – 266
Fishery Management Plan for the Salmon Fisheries in
the EZZ Off Alaska
http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc/PDFdocuments
/fmp/Salmon/SalmonFMPfinal1212.pdf
15 October: Fisheries and Global Trade
Readings: Lazyer, pp. 348 – 378
Websites listed on page 378
22 October: MIDTERM EXAM
29 October: Alternative Energy
Readings: Layzer, pp. 308 – 338
The Chicago Council. Embracing the Future: The Midwest
and a New National Energy Policy
http://isen.northwestern.edu/doc/pdf/chicagocouncil_embra
cing_the_future.pdf
5 November: Climate Change
Readings: Layzer, pp. 270 – 302
12 November: Market-Based Solutions
Readings: Layzer, pp. 414 – 441
19 November: Ecosystem-Based Management
Readings: Layzer, pp. 447 – 479
Websites listed on page 479
Horton, Tom. Growing! Growing! Gone! The Chesapeake
Bay and the Myth of Endless Growth
http://www.abell.org/pubsitems/env_Growing_808.pdf
26 November: Managing Urban Growth
Readings: Layzer, pp. 488 – 511
ISSUE PAPER DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS
3 December: Environmental Politics and Values
Readings: Layzer, pp. 515 – 567
LAST CLASS TO TURN IN QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
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10 December: Global Environmental Issues
Readings: Anand, S. Vijay. Global Environmental Issues
http://www.omicsonline.org/scientific-reports/21577617-SR-632.pdf
Montreal Protocol Summary, Government of Australia
http://www.environment.gov.au/atmosphere/
ozone/legislation/montp.html
FINAL EXAM WILL BE GIVEN DURING FINALS WEEK. DATE TBD.
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