Instructor:
Brendon Swedlow Political
Science (POLS) 324
bswedlow@niu.edu 815.753.7061 NIU
Spring 2006
Office:
418 Zulauf Hall MW
Hours:
MW
Politics of Energy and the Environment:
Environmental,
Health, and Safety Risks
Global
Questions, Local Answers
Course
Overview
Environmental issues are among the most pervasive of our time. Whether
it is the loss of biodiversity, the warming of the planet, or any one of dozens
of other problems we are constantly being asked to assess, environmental issues
are everywhere.
Environmental issues are also challenging to understand. Environmental
advocates often rely on factual claims – species loss is occurring at a certain
rate, or global warming is causing increased flooding – that are disputed by
others. How are we to know which claims are more nearly correct?
Environmental issues can be difficult to resolve. Factual disputes are
frequently embedded in value conflicts. Many interest groups have strong views
on what the relationship between humans and the environment should be. These oughts get mixed up with assessments of what the present
relationship is.
This course will teach you how to get answers to your questions about
the environment. We will learn how to analyze disputes among environmental
experts. We will study how environmental issues are perceived and addressed in
different countries. And we will together have the opportunity to research how
environmental, health, and safety risks are regulated in
Course Requirements and Participation
Your grade in this course will be based on class participation, a short research paper (5-7 pages), a research proposal (3-5 pages), and a longer research paper (20-30 pages). Deadlines for submission of the papers and proposal are provided below. Further description of what is required for the papers and proposal will be provided in class and on the course webpages.
Class participation will determine a significant part of your course grade (20%). Every day that we meet I will select one or more students from the enrollment roster to answer questions about the readings. Students who are present and prepared to answer those questions, will receive credit for participating in class discussion that day. Students who are absent or unprepared, will receive no credit that day. Other ways to receive no credit for the day include: (1) cell phone or pager-related interruptions and (2) being late, stepping out of and back into class, or leaving early without good reason.
Required
Required readings for the course are on e-reserves (for which a URL
will be provided in class and on the course webpages) at NIU’s Founder’s
Library and in the following required texts, available at the
Sheila Jasanoff. Risk Management and Political Culture.
Allan Mazur, True
Warnings and False Alarms: Evaluating Fears about the Health Risks of
Technology, 1948-1971.
David Ropeik and George Gray. Risk! A Practical Guide for Deciding What’s
Really Safe and What’s Really Dangerous in the World Around You.
Due Dates for Paper Proposal and Papers
February 6 Short Research Paper (5-7 pages; 25% of grade) on Bjorn Lomborg due at beginning of class, Monday
March 6 Research Paper Proposal (3-5 pages; 15% of grade) on Risk Regulation due at beginning of class, Monday
May 1 Research Paper (20-30 pages; 40% of grade) on Risk Regulation due at beginning of class, Monday
Please do not…
· ask for extensions on turning in your paper proposal and papers. Proposals and papers will be graded down one third of a grade per day that they are late.
· ask for an incomplete in the course unless you have a very, very compelling reason to do so.
Definitely do not…
· engage in “academic misconduct,” defined by the NIU Student Judicial Code as the “receipt or transmission of unauthorized aid on assignments or examinations, plagiarism, unauthorized use of examination materials, or other forms of dishonesty in academic matters.”
Department
of Political Science Announcements
Undergraduate
Writing Awards
The Department of Political Science will recognize, on an
annual basis, outstanding undergraduate papers written in conjunction with
300-400 level political science courses or directed studies. Authors do not
have to be political science majors or have a particular class standing. Winners
are expected to attend the Department's spring graduation ceremony where they
will receive a certificate and $50.00. Papers, which can be submitted by
students or faculty, must be supplied in triplicate to a department secretary
by
Statement Concerning Students with Disabilities
Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, NIU is
committed to making reasonable accommodations for persons with documented
disabilities. Those students with disabilities that may have some impact on
their coursework and for which they may require accommodations should notify
the Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR) on the fourth floor of the
Department of Political Science Web Site
Undergraduates are strongly encouraged to consult the Department of Political Science web site on a regular basis. This up-to-date, central source of information will assist students in contacting faculty and staff, reviewing course requirements and syllabi, exploring graduate study, researching career options, tracking department events, and accessing important details related to undergraduate programs and activities. To reach the site, go to http://polisci.niu.edu.
WEEK 1 But is it True?
Skepticism and Environmentalism
Reminder: NO CLASS MONDAY, JAN. 16, MARTIN LUTHER KING
DAY
Lomborg, Bjorn. (2001). “Things are getting better.” In Bjorn Lomborg, The Skeptical Environmentalist: Measuring
the
Lomborg, Bjorn. (2001). “Predicament or Progress?” In Bjorn Lomborg, The Skeptical Environmentalist: Measuring the
WEEK 2 Today’s Biggest
Environmental Issues? Biodiversity Loss and Global Warming
Lomborg, Bjorn. (2001). “Biodiversity.” In Bjorn Lomborg, The Skeptical Environmentalist: Measuring
the
Lomborg, Bjorn. (2001). “Global warming.” In Bjorn Lomborg, The Skeptical Environmentalist: Measuring
the
WEEK 3 How Do We Know What We
Know? Understanding the Politics of Science
Science, Policy, and
Politics: Learning from Controversy Over The Skeptical Environmentalist.
(2004). Edited by R.A. Pielke, Jr. and
Mazur, Allan. (2004). “Why
Experts in Technical Controversies Disagree.” In Allan Mazur, True Warnings and False Alarms: Evaluating
Fears about the Health Risks of Technology, 1948-1971.
Swedlow, Brendon. (2005). “The Political Struggle
for Scientific Authority: Boundary-work and Pollution Claims among Owl and Forest
Scientists and their Allies and Opponents.” Draft manuscript. pp. 1-40.
WEEK 4 How Do We Know What’s Dangerous? Risk Assessment and Management
Reminder: Short
Research Paper (5-7 pages) on Bjorn Lomborg due Monday, February 6th,
beginning of class
Andrews, Richard N. L. (2006). “Risk-Based Decision
Making: Policy, Science, and Politics.” In Environmental
Policy: New Directions for the Twenty-First Century, Sixth Edition, Norman
J. Vig and Michael E. Kraft, eds. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly
Press. pp. 215-238.
Swedlow, Brendon. (2005). “Risk Regulation
Regimes in
WEEK 5 What Causes and Controls Cancer? Assessing
and Managing Cancer Risks
Jasanoff, Sheila. (1986). “The Many Faces of ‘Cancer
Policy’.” In Sheila Jasanoff, Risk
Management and Political Culture.
Jasanoff, Sheila. (1986). “Identifying Carcinogens.” In
Sheila Jasanoff, Risk Management and
Political Culture.
Jasanoff, Sheila. (1986). “Risk Assessment.” In Sheila
Jasanoff, Risk Management and Political
Culture.
Jasanoff, Sheila. (1986). “Accommodating Scientific Change.”
In Sheila Jasanoff, Risk Management and
Political Culture.
WEEK 6 What Causes and Controls
Cancer? Assessing and Managing Cancer Risks
Jasanoff, Sheila. (1986). “Regulation of Formaldehyde.” In
Sheila Jasanoff, Risk Management and
Political Culture.
Jasanoff, Sheila. (1986). “The Cultures of Participation.”
In Sheila Jasanoff, Risk Management and
Political Culture.
Jasanoff, Sheila. (1986). “Neutral Expertise.” In Sheila
Jasanoff, Risk Management and Political
Culture.
Jasanoff, Sheila. (1986).
“Conclusion.” In Sheila Jasanoff, Risk
Management and Political Culture.
WEEK 7 How Do We Know What We
Know? Culture and Risk Perception
Slovic, Paul, James Flynn, C.K. Mertz, Marc Poumadere, and
Claire Mays. (2000). “Nuclear Power and the Public: A Comparative Study of Risk
Perception in
WEEK 8 How Do We Know What We Know? Culture, Risk Perception & Communication
Reminder: Research
Paper Proposal on Risk Regulation due Monday, March 6th , beginning
of class (3-5 pages)
Ellis, Richard J. and Fred Thompson. (1997). “Culture and
the Environment in the
Swedlow, Brendon. (1995). “Reporting Environmental Science.”
In Aaron Wildavsky, But Is It True? A
Citizen’s Guide to Environmental Health and Safety Issues.
WEEK 10 How Does Regulation
Matter? Adversarial Legalism and Environmental Law
Kagan, Robert A. (2001).
“Adversarial Legalism and Regulatory Style.” Adversarial Legalism: The
Kagan, Robert A. (2001).
“Economic Development, Environmental Protection, and Adversarial Legalism.” Adversarial Legalism: The
WEEK 11 How Does Regulation
Matter? Corporate Environmental Performance
Kagan, Robert A., Neil
Gunningham, and Dorothy Thornton. (2003). “Explaining Corporate Environmental
Performance: How Does Regulation Matter?,” Law
and Society Review 37,
WEEK 12 What Are Risk
Regulation Regimes? And Why They Matter
Hood, Christopher, Henry Rothstein, and Robert Baldwin. (2001).
“What Are Risk Regulation Regimes? Why Do They Matter?” In Christopher Hood,
Henry Rothstein, and Robert Baldwin, The
Government of Risk: Understanding Risk Regulation Regimes.
Hood, Christopher, Henry Rothstein, and Robert Baldwin.
(2001). “The Comparative Anatomy of Risk Regulation Regimes.” In Christopher
Hood, Henry Rothstein, and Robert Baldwin, The
Government of Risk: Understanding Risk Regulation Regimes.
WEEK 13 What Are Risk
Regulation Regimes? Nine British Regimes Compared
Hood, Christopher, Henry Rothstein, and Robert Baldwin.
(2001). “Nine Risk Regulation Regimes Compared.” In Christopher Hood, Henry
Rothstein, and Robert Baldwin, The
Government of Risk: Understanding Risk Regulation Regimes.
Hood, Christopher, Henry Rothstein, and Robert Baldwin.
(2001). “How Far does Context Shape Content in Risk Regulation Regimes?” In
Christopher Hood, Henry Rothstein, and Robert Baldwin, The Government of Risk: Understanding Risk Regulation Regimes.
WEEK 14 What Are Risk
Regulation Regimes? The NIU Study of Regimes in
Hood, Christopher, Henry Rothstein, and Robert Baldwin.
(2001). “Regime Content and Context Revisited: An Overall Picture.” In
Christopher Hood, Henry Rothstein, and Robert Baldwin, The Government of Risk: Understanding Risk Regulation Regimes.
Hood, Christopher, Henry Rothstein, and Robert Baldwin.
(2001). “Regime Development Under Pressure: Staged Retreats and Lateral
Mutations.” In Christopher Hood, Henry Rothstein, and Robert Baldwin, The Government of Risk: Understanding Risk
Regulation Regimes.
WEEK 15 True Warnings or False
Alarms? What an Answer Might Look Like
Mazur, Allan. (2004). “True Warnings and False Alarms.” In
Allan Mazur, True Warnings and False
Alarms: Evaluating Fears about the Health Risks of Technology, 1948-1971.
Mazur, Allan. (2004). “Lawless’s Era: 1948-1971.” In Allan
Mazur, True Warnings and False Alarms:
Evaluating Fears about the Health Risks of Technology, 1948-1971.
Mazur, Allan. (2004).
“Evaluating the Lawless Warnings: True or False?” In Allan Mazur, True Warnings and False Alarms: Evaluating
Fears about the Health Risks of Technology, 1948-1971.
WEEK 16 True Warnings or False
Alarms? What an Answer Might Look Like
Reminder: Research
Paper on Risk Regulation due Monday, May 1, beginning of class
Mazur, Allan. (2004). “Coding the Cases.” In Allan Mazur, True Warnings and False Alarms: Evaluating
Fears about the Health Risks of Technology, 1948-1971.
Mazur, Allan. (2004). “Hallmarks of True and False Alarms.”
In Allan Mazur, True Warnings and False
Alarms: Evaluating Fears about the Health Risks of Technology, 1948-1971.
Mazur, Allan. (2004).
“Hindsight and Foresight.” In Allan Mazur, True
Warnings and False Alarms: Evaluating Fears about the Health Risks of
Technology, 1948-1971.