International political economy of trade and sustainability
Etablissement : ESPOL European School of Political and Social Sciences
Langue : Anglais
Formation(s) dans laquelle/lesquelles le cours apparait :
Période : S4
This course offers an advanced political economy analysis of trade and sustainable development. It conceptualizes trade, capitalism, and environmental degradation as interconnected ecological processes rather than separate policy domains. The course critically examines sustainable development as a contested governance project and evaluates competing visions of sustainability—including green growth, doughnut economics, degrowth, adaptation, and post-development alternatives. Emphasis is placed on power, distribution, knowledge, and political conflict in shaping global trade and environmental governance. Particular attention is paid to international trade institutions, including the WTO, trade agreements, and ongoing proposals to reform global trade governance for sustainability.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Explain how international trade and the environmental are shaped by one another.
- Describe the core principles of sustainable development.
- Compare different approaches to sustainability (green growth, degrowth, adaptation).
- Identify the theoretical underpinnings of different ‘solutions’ to the sustainability dilemma.
- Identify political and economic conflicts underlying sustainability policies.
Session 1 — Trade, Growth, and Environmental Problems
Session 2 — Sustainable Development as a Global Response
Session 3 — Trade, Inequality, and Environmental Burdens
Session 4 — Trade Institutions and Sustainable Development
Session 5 — Thinking Ecologically about Trade and Capitalism
Session 6 — Green Growth and the Energy Transition
Session 7 — Doughnut Economics and Reforming Capitalism
Session 8 — Degrowth and the Limits of Trade-led Growth
Session 9 — Adaptation, Rewilding, and Environmental Futures
