course-details-portlet

POL8525

The Management and Political Economy of Natural Resources

Choose study year

Lessons are not given in the academic year 2025/2026

Credits 10
Level Doctoral degree level
Language of instruction English and norwegian
Location Trondheim

About

About the course

Course content

Both in Norway and internationally questions related to ownership, control and management of natural resources are important. Industries such as agriculture and forestry, fishery and fish farming, water and wind power, the oil and gas industry have in different stages and in various ways been fundamental for the development of the Norwegian economy and the welfare state, as well as district policy and the relationship between center and periphery.

The course aims to increase knowledge about the use and management of natural resources and common goods, as well as the understanding of political disagreements and conflict related to rights and control of natural resources - in both a Norwegian and a comparative perspective. This course is at the intersection between Public Policy and Administration, Political Economy and Comparative Politics, and will draw on theory and methods from all these areas.

Learning outcome

Knowledge - the student shall have knowledge of:

  • theories and methods for analysis of interests, ownership and management of common goods and natural resources
  • models and practices in the management of natural resources and natural resource-based industries

Skills - the student shall demonstrate the ability to:

  • treat one of the topics which was discussed during instruction in an independent empirical analytical manner which is at a high international level
  • orally discuss and reflect over one's own written work and the topics addressed in the teaching

Learning methods and activities

Lectures/group discussions. Supervision of term paper. The essay is to be an independent discussion of a topic taught in lectures, and is to consist of 20 pages. If 6 or fewer students sign up for a planned course during the first 2 teaching weeks, the course will be offered as an instructed reading course.

Further on evaluation

Form of assessment: Individual paper. An identical version of the exam paper cannot be used directly in the PhD thesis as an article or a chapter. A revised version of the exam paper may be included in the thesis. When repeating a failed exam, the candidate can submit a revised version of a previously submitted paper in the course. If the submission is a revised version of a previously submitted paper, this must be specified in the paper.

Required previous knowledge

Master's degree in Political Science or equivalent.

Course materials

To be decided at the start of the course.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
POL3525 10 sp Autumn 2021
This course has academic overlap with the course in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Social Studies
  • Social Sciences
  • Political Science

Contact information

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Sociology and Political Science