Dr Noah Zucker, CBG 9.03

This course is available on the MSc in International Affairs (LSE and Peking University), MSc in International Political Economy, MSc in International Political Economy (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in International Political Economy (Research), MSc in Political Science (Global Politics), MSc in Political Science (Political Science and Political Economy) and MSc in Regulation. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

All students are required to obtain permission from the Teacher Responsible by completing the online application form linked to course selection on LSE for You. Admission is not guaranteed.

This course has a limited number of places (it is controlled access) and demand is typically high.

Why has climate change proven to be such a challenging issue for global governance? How will intensified climate disruptions and decarbonization transform countries' economies and politics? Who are the winners and losers of these transitions and how are they shaping climate governance today? This course will address these questions in a survey of the political economy of climate change. We will explore cutting-edge research on climate politics and critically analyze various theoretical concepts and models, assess the advantages and drawbacks of different empirical approaches, and draw connections to core debates in international political economy and political science. Students will gain familiarity with the frontier of climate politics scholarship, learn how to constructively critique academic work, and develop skills in designing and executing rigorous political economy research.

10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the WT.

Students on this course will have a reading week in Week 6, in line with departmental policy.

Students will be expected to produce an outline of the summative climate research proposal in the WT.

• Waldinger. 2022. “The Economic Effects of Long-Term Climate Change: Evidence from the Little Ice Age.” Journal of Political Economy.
• Ross. 2008. “Oil, Islam, and Women.” American Political Science Review.
• Sprinz and Vaahtoranta. 1994. “The Interest-Based Explanation of International Environmental Policy.” International Organization.
• Clark and Zucker. 2023. “Climate Cascades: IOs and the Prioritization of Climate Action.” American Journal of Political Science.
• Barrett. 2003. Environment and Statecraft: The Strategy of Environmental Treaty-Making. Oxford University Press.
• Kennard. 2020. “The Enemy of My Enemy: Why Firms Support Climate Change Regulation.” International Organization.
• Colantone, Di Lonardo, Margalit, and Percoco. 2023. “The Political Consequences of Green Policies: Evidence from Italy.” American Political Science Review.
• Bush and Clayton. 2023. “Facing Change: Gender and Climate Change Attitudes Worldwide.” American Political Science Review.
• Buntaine, Greenstone, He, Liu, Wang, and Zhang. 2024. “Does the Squeaky Wheel Get More Grease? The Direct and Indirect Effects of Citizen Participation on Environmental Governance in China.” American Economic Review.
• Graham and Serdaru. 2020. “Power, Control, and the Logic of Substitution in Institutional Design: The Case of International Climate Finance.” International Organization.

Class participation (20%) and presentation (5%) in the WT.
Research proposal (75%) in the ST.

• Class participation is comprised of general class participation (15%) and discussion leadership (5%) in WT.
• Presentation of research proposal (5%) in WT. 
• Research proposal (75%) in ST.