Seminar on American Environmental Politics Political Science 421. Christopher McGrory Klyza. Munroe 320 ex

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1 Seminar on American Environmental Politics Political Science 421 Spring 2012 Christopher McGrory Klyza MW 2.50p 4.05p 206 Hillcrest Munroe 320 ex Office Hours: M 12.30p p W 9a-10a and by appointment In this seminar we will seek to understand and analyze conservation, environmental, and natural resources politics and policy in the United States. We will achieve this goal by studying how members of society seek to influence the government through public opinion and voting, as well as through interest groups and political parties. We will examine how conservation and environmental policy has changed over the last several decades, specifically focusing on new policy pathways such as collaboration and non-political venues. The final portion of the course will feature presentations of student research projects. Seven books are required for the course: READINGS Robert Repetto, ed., 2006, Punctuated Equilibrium and the Dynamics of U.S. Environmental Policy Christopher McGrory Klyza and David Sousa, 2008, American Environmental Policy, : Beyond Gridlock Christopher Bosso, 2005, Environment, Inc.: From Grassroots to Beltway Douglas Bevington, 2009, The Rebirth of Environmentalism: Grassroots Activism from the Spotted Owl to the Polar Bear Barry Rabe, ed., 2010, Greenhouse Governance: Addressing Climate Change in America Judith A. Layzer, 2008, Natural Experiments: Ecosystem-Based Management and the Environment David Vogel, 2006, The Market for Virtue: The Potential and Limits of Corporate Social Responsibility Readings on electronic reserve are marked by an * in the reading list. The password for the course is 1451ck. You are not expected to print out these readings to bring to class. You are also required to subscribe to and read/scan Greenwire. This is an electronic environmental newsletter that summarizes and gives links to the top environmental stories of the day. It is free and will be delivered by Monday through Friday around 1.00p. You can register for daily alerts through the college library portal: go to Greenwire, at the bottom of the Greenwire page select Get Alerts ; select Yes, I am currently a subscriber ; for account type select I have IP access ; organization is Middlebury College (I don t know how much of the other information you need to include beyond name and address). 1

2 COLLOQUIUM Students are strongly encouraged to attend the weekly ES Colloquium, Thursday 12.15p-1.20p. The colloquium includes a minute talk and a question and answer session. The colloquium meets in Hillcrest 103. It is a real cool time. For the schedule see: GRADES AND ASSIGNMENTS (1) You are expected to be a regular contributor to the class discussions of the readings. This will require your reading the assignments, understanding the author s points, formulating and expressing your own opinions, and questioning the opinions of others. Class attendance is crucial, and absences will be penalized in your participation grade. Class participation: 30% of grade. (2) You are required to write one short analytical paper (4-5 pages) on a topic that flows from the seminar readings for a particular class. No outside reading will be required, although your interests may lead you in that direction. At the beginning of the semester, you will select the class when you would like to write. Please give this matter some serious thought, considering carefully both your interests and your other obligations, for once the final schedule is assembled, there will be no changes. Papers need to be ed to me by 4.00p the afternoon before class. Short Paper: 15% (3) You will write one 3-page policy memo to a United States senator of your selection on how he or she should vote on a current policy issue (e.g., a climate change bill). Your political analysis should draw on themes and materials that we have discussed in class, as well as specific characteristics of your senator s state. Due: March 14 th. Short Paper: 15% (4) A 25-page research paper that analyzes and explains some aspect of United States environmental politics or policy is the main assignment for the class. A 1-page prospectus of the paper is due on February 29 th ; a 3-page research design is due on March 19 th ; the first draft of the paper is due on April 11 th ; and the final draft is due on May 7 th. Research Paper: 40 % NOTE: All assignments must be completed in order to pass the course. Late papers will be penalized one-half letter grade per day. February 13 Introduction COURSE SCHEDULE EXPLANATION 15 Theory I: Explaining Policy Change 1. Repetto, Punctuated Equilibrium and the Dynamics of U.S. Environmental Policy, pp. 1-46, skim pp

3 20 continued 1. Repetto, Punctuated Equilibrium and the Dynamics of U.S. Environmental Policy, read a total of three chapters, at least one from among 4, 5, and 6 and at least one from among 7, 8, and Theory II: The Green State, Gridlock, and Policy Pathways 1. Klyza and Sousa, American Environmental Policy, pp HOW SOCIETY INFLUENCES ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS 27 Individuals: Public Opinion and Voting 1. *Deborah L. Guber, 2003, The Grassroots of a Green Revolution: Polling America on the Environment, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, pp , 71-87, Interest Groups 1. Bosso, Environment, Inc., pp p RESEARCH PAPER PROSPECTUS DUE (printed) March 5 continued 1. Bosso, Environment, Inc., pp Grassroots Activism 1. Bevington, The Rebirth of Environmentalism, pp continued 1. Bevington, The Rebirth of Environmentalism, pp Political Parties, the Growth of Local Groups, and the Death of Environmentalism 1. *Charles R. Shipan and William R. Lowry, 2001, Environmental Policy and Party Divergence in Congress, Political Research Quarterly, 54: James Morton Turner, 2009, The Specter of Environmentalism : Wilderness, Environmental Politics, and the Evolution of the New Right, Journal of American History 96: (Klyza will PDF file). 3. *Christopher McGrory Klyza, Jonathan Isham, and Andrew Savage, 2006, Local Environmental Groups and the Creation of Social Capital: Evidence from Vermont, Society and Natural Resources, 19: Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, 2005, The Death of Environmentalism: Global Warming Politics in a Post-Environmental World, available at: POLICY MEMO DUE (printed) 3

4 MAKING ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY 19 New Policy Pathways: Appropriations and Executive Politics 1. Klyza and Sousa, American Environmental Policy, pp p RESEARCH DESIGN DUE (printed) 21 New Policy Pathways: The Courts 1. Klyza and Sousa, American Environmental Policy, pp NO CLASS SPRING BREAK 28 NO CLASS SPRING BREAK April 2 New Policy Pathways: The States and Climate Change 1. Klyza and Sousa, American Environmental Policy, pp Rabe, Greenhouse Governance, pp. 1-57, , skim pp continued 1. Rabe, Greenhouse Governance, pp , and read a total of at least three additional chapters: at least one from among 6, 7, 8, and 9; at least one from among 10, 11, and 12; and either 13 or New Policy Pathways: Consensus and Collaboration 1. *Donald F. Kettl, 2002, Introduction, in Environmental Governance: A Report on the Next Generation of Environmental Policy, edited by Donald F. Kettle, Washington: Brookings Institution, pp Klyza and Sousa, American Environmental Policy, pp continued 1. Layzer, Natural Experiments, pp. 1-40, , and chapter 3 or 5. RESEARCH PAPER FIRST DRAFT DUE (printed) 16 continued 1. Layzer, Natural Experiments, pp , , and chapter 8 or Corporate Social Responsibility 1. Klyza and Sousa, American Environmental Policy, pp Vogel, The Market for Virtue, pp. 1-74, skim pp Corporate Social Responsibility and Green Drift 1. Vogel, The Market for Virtue, pp , , skim pp Christopher McGrory Klyza and David Sousa, 2010, Beyond Gridlock: Green Drift in American Environmental Policymaking, Political Science Quarterly, 125 (Fall): (Klyza will PDF file). 4

5 25 Student Research Presentations STUDENT RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS 30 continued May 2 continued EVENING: Pizza dinner at Klyza s house in Bristol. 7 continued RESEARCH PAPER FINAL DRAFT DUE (printed) 9 Summary and Conclusion 5