Title: Understanding political processes in climate change negotiations by means of an interdisciplinary curriculum in higher education

Authors: Helmut Breitmeier; Daniel Otto

Addresses: Department for Political Science, International Politics, FernUniversität in Hagen, Eugen-Schmalenbach-Gebäude, Universitätsstr. 41, 58084 Hagen, Germany. ' Department for Political Science, International Politics, FernUniversität in Hagen, Eugen-Schmalenbach-Gebäude, Universitätsstr. 41, 58084 Hagen, Germany

Abstract: Political science draws on different theoretical approaches that can be used for explaining the outcome of climate negotiations. These approaches take into account that interests shape the preferences of states, of the economy and of civil society. In its analysis of climate change as an issue of global governance, political science must be part of an approach which combines the contributions of the different disciplines to the subject. Yet, whilst there is evidence of a higher education curriculum on climate change taking on board the importance of political processes within such an interdisciplinary endeavour, more needs to be done before it is fully embedded alongside natural science in the study of the subject. In this regard, two possible ways forward are explored: collaborative curriculum production as exemplified by the LECHe project and simulation games.

Keywords: climate change negotiations; interdisciplinarity; higher education; political science; simulation games; politics; interdisciplinary curriculum.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISD.2012.046050

International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 2012 Vol.6 No.1, pp.20 - 30

Published online: 30 Oct 2014 *

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