Political Science

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

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Module Code: POU33184

Module Name: Topics in International Politics 2025-26

ECTS Weighting: 5
Semester/Term Taught: Semester 2
Contact Hours: 2 Hours Lecture per week
Module Personnel: Dr Sotirios Karampampas

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to

Understand the basic issues and challenges in international environmental politics.
Demonstrate knowledge of key political theories and analytical frameworks used to study environmental governance.
Analyse the roles, interests, and strategies of diverse actors involved in global environmental cooperation.
Examine how digital media, fandoms, and cultural industries shape protest cultures and global imaginaries.
Evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of international environmental regimes and multilateral agreements.
Apply theoretical insights to empirical cases in order to develop evidence-based arguments on key issues in international environmental politics.

Module Learning Aims

The module aims to

Introduce students to the core concepts, frameworks, and debates in the study of international environmental politics.
Provide students with the analytical foundations to conduct theoretical and empirical research on international and comparative environmental politics.
Train students to apply theoretical insights to real-world cases of environmental cooperation and conflict.
Develop students’ capacity to critically assess the effectiveness of international environmental regimes and policy instruments.
Enhance students’ ability to evaluate the political drivers and constraints of global cooperation on environmental challenges.

Module Content

This module examines the international politics of environmental problems through a comparative lens. It explores how global environmental challenges – such as ozone depletion and climate change – are addressed through international regimes, multilateral agreements, and the participation of various state and non-state actors. Emphasis is placed on regime design, participation, and effectiveness, as well as the institutional complexity that often limits coordinated responses. The course also analyses the link between climate change and conflict, the trade-environment nexus, the issue of environmental justice and prospects for future global environmental governance. Throughout, students will engage with key theoretical frameworks and empirical cases to critically assess why international cooperation succeeds or fails. They will also consider how environmental governance is shaped by power asymmetries, competing interests, and evolving global norms.