POL377H1F L0101

Topics in Comparative Politics I

Critical Issues in Sustainable Development

Themes

The Faculty of Arts and Science have decided that all Summer 2020 F and Y courses will be offered remotely rather than in person. A final determination of the delivery mode for S courses will be made by June 13.

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This course aims to introduce, engage with, and critically assess the concept of sustainable development through the study of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs were introduced by the UN in 2015 as an extension of the Millennium Development Goals. United Nations member states signed on the new SDGs agenda, responding to the call for a global vision that will lead humanity towards sustainable development. The vision of SDGs is to create a world in which people are productively employed, free of poverty and hunger, with access to universal health coverage and education, an end to environmental degradation and empowerment of all women and girls by 2030. Since more than 178 countries adopted SDGs in 2015, they are now extensively used by policymakers and academics to evaluate and measure development progress.
Focusing on three specific SDGs: “No Poverty” (SDG 1), “Gender Equality” (SDG 5) and “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions” (SDG 16), the course introduces students to the nature and relevance of SDGs. They will examine how various societal actors are responding to and implementing SDGs, how SDGs are understood at different levels of global governance, how progress can be measured and the practical challenges of implementing SDGs.
The course is divided into two parts: the first part provides a general introduction to critical theories and practical issues in sustainable development. The focus is on understanding the strategies, instruments and multidimensionality of sustainable development. Taking readings from the fields of political science, development studies and political economy, the course is multidisciplinary in nature and experientially-focused. The teaching consists of online lectures and seminars. The second half of the course explores particular challenges to achieving sustainable development. Students will examine the different dilemmas posed in these contexts, including with regard to civil conflicts, building state institutions, gender equality and creating a world free of extreme poverty. The course is a kickstarter to a similar version of the course that will be offered in the summer of 2021 by the University of Toronto and the University of Sydney, and involves joint field sessions hosted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, India.

Texts

A collection of readings from journal articles and book chapters.

Format and Requirements

Bi-weekly lecture, weekly responses (45%), critical essay (40%) and participation/attendance (15%).

As the course will be offered online, students will need a webcam, fast internet, and earphones with a functioning microphone.

Prerequisites

1.0 credit in POL/ JPA/ JPF/ JPI/ JPR/ JPS/ JRA courses