PLSC 441 The Politics of Climate Change in Developing States

Fall 2026

The Politics of Climate Change in Developing States

An upper-level seminar on how climate change reshapes politics in the developing world — who bears the costs, who pays for adaptation, and why states facing similar risks choose such different policies. You will follow one country all semester and take a form of climate action of your own.

Schedule & readings Full syllabus Add to calendar

Course at a glance

Meets
Monday & Wednesday, 10:30–11:50 am
Location
322 David Kinley Hall
Instructor
Dr. Cleo O'Brien-Udry
Office hours
Mon & Wed 1–3 pm, and by appointment · 309 David Kinley Hall
Email
coudry@illinois.edu

Grading

  • 25%In-class participation
    Weekly discussion questions due Mondays, in-class reading responses, and active engagement in seminar.
  • 25%Case studies
    One country, followed all semester: weekly written summaries (10%) plus three randomly-called two-minute presentations (15%).
  • 5%Direct action
    Choose a form of climate action and pursue it across the semester: a proposal, photo evidence, and a 500-word reflection.
  • 20%Midterm
    Closed-book, in person. One essay question synthesising concepts from class through your chosen country. Date TBA — Week 9 is marked midterm week.
  • 25%Final
    Closed-book, in person. One essay question synthesising concepts from the whole course through your chosen country. Date TBA.

Discussion questions are due each Monday before class; case study summaries and the random two-minute presentations happen on Wednesdays.

Weeks

  1. Week 1Intro; physical effectsMon Aug 24 · Wed Aug 26
  2. Week 2Coal, industrialization, and slaveryMon Aug 31
  3. Week 3Colonialism and resource extractionWed Sep 9
  4. Week 4Trade; environmental treatiesMon Sep 14 · Wed Sep 16
  5. Week 5COPMon Sep 21 · Wed Sep 23
  6. Week 6TBAMon Sep 28 · Wed Sep 30
  7. Week 7Migration — causes; consequencesMon Oct 5 · Wed Oct 7
  8. Week 8Violence; conflictMon Oct 12 · Wed Oct 14
  9. Week 9Deforestation; pollutionMon Oct 19 · Wed Oct 21
  10. Week 10History: oil; renewable energy — internationalMon Oct 26 · Wed Oct 28
  11. Week 11Critical minerals; renewable energy — domesticMon Nov 2 · Wed Nov 4
  12. Week 12Climate finance — determinants; effectsMon Nov 9 · Wed Nov 11
  13. Week 13Supply chains — corporations; CBAMMon Nov 16 · Wed Nov 18
  14. Week 14Carbon offsets — principles; applicationsMon Nov 30 · Wed Dec 2
  15. Week 15Direct climate actionMon Dec 7

Direct action resources

Starting points for the direct climate action project. The syllabus has a longer list of ideas.