This class has two goals: First, it shall render students familiar with theories of political sociology that have become influential in International Relations. Here, we will focus on critical-analytical approaches from a range of authors. The second goal is to put European and African scholarship in relation by including older and recent contributions from both continents, including works that use theories of political sociology for empirical analyses.
Most of the sessions will therefore combine basic reading on key concepts and authors with additional reading in which these concepts can be seen “at work”. Credit points are acquired by oral presentations, jointly or individually, and term papers.

This course will provide students with the skills to critically analyze international resource policies and their practical implementation in North Africa and Latin America. The course begins by dealing with fundamental notions of resource sovereignty, sustainable development, and energy transition. It then looks at international and regional governance of natural resources and their trade, with particular attention to hydrocarbons, mining, and ‘renewables’. Finally, it turns to the opportunities and challenges that resource extraction can create to sustainable development, poverty reduction, and societal peace on the national and sub-national level.

Literatur zur Vorbereitung/Preparatory Reading:

Barral, Virginie (2016): ‘National sovereignty over natural resources: Environmental challenges and sustainable development’. In Research Handbook on International Law and Natural Resources. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Bauer, Andrew & Quiroz, Juan Carlos (2013): ‘Resource Governance’. In The Handbook of Global Energy Policy. Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell

Assignments and Credits:

MPL (3 CP): Oral presentation plus written elaboration; GPL (6 CP): Term paper; GPL+ (9 CP): Oral presentation and term paper.

Mobilitätswendenarrative werden von einem nicht unerheblichen Teil der Bevölkerung häufig als Verbotsnarrative erlebt (z.B. bei Berlin Autofrei). Diese werden meist von rechten und konservativen Kräften befeuert und zu einem Kulturkampf um das Auto hochstilisiert (z.B. Aus vom Verbrenner-Aus). Obwohl es wissenschaftlich unbestritten ist, dass die Pariser Klimaziele und vor allem das 1,5°C Ziel, aber auch Klimaneutralität bis 2038 in Bremen nur dann erreichbar ist, wenn eine Abkehr vom motorisierten Individualverkehr (MIV) stattfindet. Dass eine Abkehr nur dann realistisch ist, wenn sie mit einem Ausbau des ÖPNV und einer Verbesserung der aktiver Mobilität und Stärkung der Verkehrssicherheit Hand in Hand geht, ist nicht weniger eindeutig.

Eigentlich bedeutet eine Abkehr vom Auto sogar ein Gewinn für alle, denn sie ermöglicht, Mobilität an den Bedürfnissen der Menschen neu- und weiterzudenken. Aber wie gelangen wir zu einem Narrativ, dass diese Chance für die Menschen auch erfahrbar macht? Wie überzeugen wir Menschen tatsächlich davon? Und wie verteidigen wir uns erfolgreich gegen diejenigen, die trotz aller wissenschaftlichen Fakten am Auto festhalten wollen? Welche Analysen brauchen wir, um den rechten Backlash in der Mobilitätswende zu verstehen? Wo liegt das Problem? Welche Aspekte müssen wir berücksichtigen? Und vor allem: wie können wir dazu beitragen, die Mobilitätswende in Bremen und umzu aktiv mitzugestalten?

https://www.uni-bremen.de/fb8/international/internationales-modul
3 CP/ECTS for this course, +3 CP/ECTS extra credit
Introduction to the political economy of carbon trading, with particular reference to the voluntary carbon market as it operates in tropical countries, with special reference to Sub-Saharan Africa and the East African Community.
1. Locating 'nature-based solutions' to climate change within key global crises, including global warming, agriculture and land-use changes and deforestation; population pressure on natural resources and other drivers of climate change.
2. General overview of carbon and biodiversity markets in relation to climate change and mitigation efforts across the tropics (S America, Africa, Asia), with special reference to forests and deforestation.
3. Controversies in carbon markets and trading: (1) conceptual; (2) operational; and (3)practical.
4. The Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) as part of the global carbon trading architecture: evolution 1997 to the present and its current key direction characteristics.
5. Carbon credit/offset projects in relation to: (1) forestry/reforestation; (2) clean energy; and (3) other sectors
6. Research findings on key aspects of the VCM, especially REDD+ and energysaving projects across three continents. Additionality, leakages, impact, measurement.
7. The political economy of key players in carbon trading: the World Bank/donor agencies/INGOs, carbon traders and verifiers, project implementers, governments, and vulnerable communities.