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POL320 The Geopolitics of Energy and Global Climate Change

• Department Political Science
• Level Upper
• Format Online
• Credits 3

Description

Energy consumption is the lifeblood of the US and global economy, yet we seldom investigate the costs involved in making a gallon of gas cheaper than a gallon of milk. When you fill up your tank, have you ever wondered where the fuel comes from or what it takes to make this necessary energy source so readily available? When you hear about costly wars or domestic strife in energy-rich regions like Russia or the Middle East, do you question how these might be related? Beyond the near constant power rivalry over energy, even alternative energy technologies, global climate change looms as an almost incalculable cost. In this course you develop a geopolitical lens onto energy and climate change by looking at powerful state, military and corporate actors, each pursuing its own, often conflicting, objectives. You examine how these actors influence energy geopolitics and climate change, such as in dealing with the security implications of increased sea levels, storm intensities, Arctic melt and drought. In this course you examine the political realities of energy today and the possibilities of different tomorrows.

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Prerequisites

This course does not require any prerequisites.

Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC)

To be designated as a Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) course, all instructional materials will be provided at no cost to students. These may include Open Educational Resources (OER), free materials, or library resources. Check your syllabus for more information.

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