Transnational Transformations and the Environment

Critics assert that existing environmental governance institutions, including treaties and organizations in the UN system, have not provided an effective response to modern environmental crises. Many attribute this failure to the organization of political power that privileges the state, global capitalism, and scientific knowledge, all of which preclude real environmental reform. In response, transnational networks of environmental actors have challenged the authoritative claims of science, criticized organizations such as the World Bank, and advocated for greater grassroots participation in global environmental management. In this course we will examine both perspectives. (International Relations and Foreign Policy)/