Governance and Transformation

44M0565

Master

English

5.0

only summer term

1 semester

This module explores the development, definition and implementation of transformative goals and policies surrounding climate change mitigation and land use. To this end, it cultivates a deeper understanding of the central players involved, the political economy logics of decision-making processes, as well as the drivers and conditions of transformation.

• What is goverance? What is transformation knowledge (e.g. Pohl 2022)? Foundational theories and key concepts defined
• How are climate and land use goals and international agreements developed and codified? What are the challanges of implementation, including funding, monitoring and enforcement? (e.g. Sustainable Development Goals)
• What are the central questions of governance shaping the transition towards sustainable forms of land use today?
• Who are the actors are involved at different levels? What can we say about the webs of interest and relative power they represent?
• To what extent can we define and categorize transfomation processes? What are the markers and relative (dis)advantages of top-down vs. bottom-up transformation processes?
• What can historical examples teach us about transformative goverance?

The total workload for the module is 150 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

• Portfolio exam or
• Homework / Assignment or
• oral exam

The standard examination form is a porfolio; deviations from this will be announced in the first four weeks after the start of lectures.

presentation/report: ca. 20-30 minute presentation with 5-10 page written analysis
oral examination: ca. 20-30 minutes

Basic knowledge on the topics of goverance and/or sustainable land use is helpful, but not required.

Students demonstrate their knowledge regarding governance and transformation. Students can explain linkages between the goals and policies surrounding climate change mitigation and land use. They can differentiate political-economy logics of decision-making processes and categorize different transfomation processes. They can discuss in more general terms the development of climate, energy and agricultural policies and practices, policy processes and related outcomes.

In a specific case study, they are able to sketch the web of interests and outline the potential trade-offs and synergies among the central players involved in developing different policies. They can describe the drivers and conditions of transformation and can discuss how governance dynamics may promote, structure and/or hinder the development of transformation processes.

Students can contextualize transformation knowledge in terms of the related knowledge of objectives and facts and critially reflect on its potential use in the complex processes of land use toward sustainable development.

Students can orient themselves and integrate their prior knowledge within a potentially new (disciplinary) perspective. They can adapt the knowledge they gain about goverance and transformation to other contexts, such as collaborative projects involving diverse stakeholders.

Students can apply their general understanding of goverance and transformation knowledge to a specific case study in order to generate and analyse hypotheses.

Students can effectively collaborate with others in group project tasts. They can communicate with an expert audience about their subject matter using the technical language, in speech and writing.

Students can evaluate their personal strengths, challenges and areas of expertise. They can imagine their potential role as a member of the global community of researchers and practitioners collectively working on the challenges of land use.

• Long-Gräuler, Shelby Irene

N.N. (Professur MLT)