Global Energy Politics POLITIC4168

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • School: School of Social and Political Sciences
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course focuses on the global politics of energy. It introduces students to the dilemmas and trade-offs involved in efforts to transform national and global energy systems and provides them with a framework for critically analysing the role of political power in energy transitions.

Timetable

Seminar: 2 hours for 25 students

Requirements of Entry

Entry to Honours Politics or IR requires a grade point average of 12 (Grade C) over Politics 2A and Politics 2B as a first attempt.

Excluded Courses

None

 

It is recommended that students do not take Global Environmental Politics (POLITIC4007) at the same time as this course.

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Briefing, 1500 words (40%)

Choice of Essay or Briefing, 2500 words (60%)

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? Not applicable for Honours courses

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below.

Course Aims

This course has two aims. First, it aims to help participants develop a working knowledge of global energy politics - how national energy systems are interlinked with each other, and the complex political and policy challenges involved in the ongoing global energy transition. Participants will develop a working knowledge of the political economy of energy and the role of frames and narratives in shaping energy politics and policy. Second, it provides participants with a framework for thinking both pragmatically and critically about the politics of energy. This will involve both the analysis of trade-offs, and how (geo-) political power operates in how energy is produced, transported and consumed around the globe.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Demonstrate knowledge of the political economy of the energy transition.

■ Examine the interactions between the political, economic, environmental and technical aspects of energy systems.

■ Interpret a range of quantitative and qualitative data and social research findings regarding national and global energy systems.

■ Analyse the dilemmas and trade-offs involved in energy politics.

■ Critically evaluate the role of power in shaping energy policy and politics.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.