MEBn5041 Contemporary Trends II.

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2020
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Jan Osička, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Veronika Velička Zapletalová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. et Mgr. Veronika Velička Zapletalová, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! MEB441 ContemporaryTrends II. && ! NOW ( MEB441 ContemporaryTrends II. )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Zooming in on issues that are not covered by the program's full-length courses, the course intends to further broaden the program's agenda. The emphasis is on introducing new issues and emerging trends in energy politics or novel approaches towards its study and interpretation.

Each year, a new topic is covered and new guest lecturers are coming in to discuss it. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be one step closer to understanding of the sheer complexity of the contemporary energy landscape and the fast pace of its transformation.

The course can be combined with MEBn5040 Contemporary Trends I. The courses are thematically complementary.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to understand the very basics of the discussed topics as well as introduce them to outsiders. The course will also provide guidance for further study of the issue.
Syllabus
  • The course will take place on April 17, 10:00-13:40 in the room U42.
Literature
  • James Meadowcroft. What about the politics? Sustainable development, transition management, and long term energy transitions. Policy Sci (2009) 42:323-340, DOI: 10.1007/s11077-009-9097-z.
  • Kacper Szulecki (2018) Conceptualizing energy democracy, Environmental Politics, 27:1, 21-21-41, DOI: 10. 1080/09644016.2017.1387294
Teaching methods
Completing the required reading assignments
Participating in the sessions
Completing the written assignment by due date
Assessment methods
Full participation and submission of written assignment are required.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: in blocks.
Teacher's information
COURSE DESCRIPTION

The European Green Deal, formally articulated by the European Commission on December 11, 2019, sets out to “transform the EU into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050 and where economic growth is decoupled from resource use.”

While still at the level of declaratory intent, the course will discuss how such bold low-carbon future can not only be imagined, but also operationalized. First, students will learn which strategies and policy mixes and instruments may overcome barriers, lock-ins, and path dependencies that pose challenges for the ‘just’ low-carbon transition. Second, the course will offer new analytical concepts, terminologies and interpretations as they are applied across different theoretical frameworks including transition studies (MLP: Multi-Level Perspective; MaP: Multi-actor Perspective; or socio-technical perspective). These perspectives offer frames through which multiple analyses can be conducted (multi-level governance configurations, shifting power relations, capacity to enact change on multiple scales). Third, while not examining each regime in depth, linkages and interactions between and among related policy regimes will be noted (Climate & Energy policy, Green Deal for Europe, Sustainable Development Goals).

The course is of interest to students who wish to understand or conduct research in the field of energy transitions, learn to anticipate challenges that are ahead, or those who want to participate or contribute to such a transition themselves – with their own ideas, research projects, or policy formulations.

ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES

By examining empirical evidence and learning how to apply different theoretical frameworks, students will be able to build on and re-conceptualize their own ideas in new ways. By completing the course, students should be able to gain a deeper understanding of the following topics, and answer the following questions:

(i) What are the critical conditions that enable or constrain action towards systemic and structural change in energy transitions?

(ii) How does the political, legal, institutional context shape transformative climate and energy strategies?

(iii) What are the challenges ahead for low-carbon transition, and how do we think about resolving the conflicting priorities of the different sectors and different actors or stakeholders?

ABOUT THE LECTURER

Nora Hampl (Institut für Politikwissenschaft, Universität Wien), focuses on transdisciplinary sustainability research (energy transitions, 3D sustainability research, political economy, environmental ethics, ecological economics), before that she held a teaching position at the Faculty of Arts & Sciences at Harvard University, Cambridge, USA. Most recently, she presented at conferences on the following topics: (‘Technology assessment of the expanding energy systems’, Institut für Technikfolgen Abschätzung, 27 May 2019, ‘Equitability in green development’, Lateinamerikaforschung, 17-19 May 2019; ‘Green development in the context of indigenous rights’; ‘Smart cities and sustainable energy systems’. In Brno, she organized a Renewable Energy Conference, 5-6 June 2019, and helped develop low-carbon energy strategy 2050 for the city of Brno.

LITERATURE

Kacper Szulecki (2018) Conceptualizing energy democracy, Environmental Politics, 27:1, 21-21-41, DOI: 10. 1080/09644016.2017.1387294

James Meadowcroft. What about the politics? Sustainable development, transition management, and long term energy transitions. Policy Sci (2009) 42:323-340, DOI: 10.1007/s11077-009-9097-z.

Karoline S. Rogge and Elisabeth Dütschke. What makes them believe in the low-carbon energy transition? Exploring corporate perceptions of the credibility of climate policy mixes. Environmental Science and Policy 87 (2018) 74-84.

The European Green Deal. European Commission, Brussels, 11.12.2019. COM(2019) 640. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52019DC0640

READING ASSIGNMENT

Reading assignment are to be completed prior to the sessions so that students can participate in a discussion in groups and with each other (maximum 30 points).

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT

The written assignment is to be submitted in two parts:

Part 1: include topic (elective by the student), introductory paragraph, and list of references (literature) (maximum 10 points)

Part 2: final assignment will consist of title, introduction, main text, conclusion(s), references (total of 3-5 pages) (maximum 60 points) submitted after the course.

GRADING

60 points is the threshold for passing the course.

DEADLINES AND LATE SUBMISSION POLICY

Topic proposal: April 12

Final assignment: May 8

A penalty of 5 points for every day of delay.


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