Module Code and Title:        ENM410 Environmental Conflict Management

Programme:                          BSc in Environmental Management

Credit Value:                          12

Module Tutor:                        Jamyang Pelmo (Coordinator), Leishipem Khamrang          

General objective: This module provides an overview of the causes, dynamics, and consequences of environmental and natural resource conflicts. Students will learn about methods and tools used to manage environmental and natural resource conflicts, including concepts of negotiation, collaboration, and collaborative environmental policy.

Learning outcomes – On completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Discuss the dimensions and characteristics of conflict.
2. Describe the multiple forms of environmental conflicts.
3. Discuss the main theories of environmental conflict.
4. Analyse the causes of environmentally induced conflict.
5. Explain the importance of environmental conflict management.
6. Describe different strategies and approaches to conflict management.
7. Describe the processes of conflict management and resolution.
8. Apply facilitation and negotiation skills for building agreements between multiple stakeholders.
9. Analyse the importance of collaborative approaches in preventing, mitigating, and resolving environmental conflicts.
10. Analyse the existing conflict management policies and practices in Bhutan.

Learning and teaching approach:

Assessment Approach:

1. Individual Conflict Case Study Presentation: 15%

During the semester, the students will research and present a case study of an environmental conflict. Presentations will be approximately 20 minutes and should include detailed information on the actors and resources involved in the conflict, the history and transformation of the conflict over time, what steps have been taken to resolve the conflict, and the current state.

8%       Content (including the use of sources, how well does the presentation address all claims relevant and supported)

3%       Organization, language and discussion

4%       Delivery (oral presentation, use of visual aid and effort to engage the audience)

1. Class Tests: 10%

Students will take two written class tests: one before midterm and one after the midterm (5% each) of 45-min duration covering 3-5 weeks of material. Reflection on key concepts and applying them to case studies will be assessed.

1. Group Project: 20%

The students will work in a group of 4 members to create a video recording (15 minutes) of a pre-approved negotiation topic that includes dialogue demonstrating an integrative negotiation between two or more parties. Evaluation will be based on the following criteria:

3% use of narration (Main narration: Who is negotiating and what are they negotiating?)

3% identification and explanation of Concepts of Negotiation

5% demonstration and Identification of the Stages of Negotiation

5% demonstrate, identify and explain the Negotiation Tactics used

4% realistic, relevant issues

1. Midterm Examination: 15%

Students will take a written exam of 1.5-hr duration covering topics up to the mid-point of the semester. The exam will comprise structured questions like MCQ, fill-in-the-blanks, matching, definition, as well as open-ended essay questions.

1. Semester-End Examination: 40%

Students will take a written exam of 2.5-hr duration encompassing all the subject matter covered in the semester. This assessment is comprehensive and summative in nature, and will comprise structured questions like MCQ, fill-in-the-blanks, matching, definition, as well as open-ended essay questions.

Overview of assessment approaches and weighting

Pre-requisites: None

Subject matter:

1. Unit I: Introduction to Environmental Conflict Management
   • Understanding environmental security and environmental conflict
     • Ecological complexity
     • Social complexity
     • Scientific uncertainty
     • Legal and procedural frameworks
     • Challenges for conflict resolution
   • Characteristics of environmental conflicts
   • Types of conflict
     • Policy measures perspective: Upstream, midstream, and downstream
     • Environment induced conflicts
   • Debates on environmental conflicts
2. Unit II. Models and theories of conflict
   • Early conflict theories - Marx and Engels
   • Growth machine and critics of capitalism
   • Treadmill of production theory
   • Modernization theories and development
   • Environmental scarcity and conflict
     • Supply-induced scarcity,
     • Demand-induced scarcity,
     • Structural scarcity

3. Unit III. Assessing conflict situations/conflict assessment
   • Introduction to conflict assessment
   • Conflict assessment process and importance
   • The practice of conflict assessment
   • Phases of conflict assessment
     • Phase 1: Introductions – preliminary work
     • Phase 2: Information gathering
     • Phase 3: Analysis
     • Phase 4: Process design
     • Report writing, feedback, distribution
   • Benefits of conflict assessment
4. Unit IV. Environmental conflict resolution (ECR)
   • Purpose of ECR
   • ECR: Scope, techniques, processes, and roles
     • Consensus-based process
     • Conflict assessment
     • Facilitation
     • Mediation
     • Conciliation
     • Negotiating rule-making

5. Unit V. Negotiation and conflict resolution
   • Introduction to negotiation: Meaning and feature
   • Process of negotiation
     • Pre-negotiation
     • Conflict assessment process and goals
     • Fact findings
     • Building relationships
     • Integrative negotiation process
   • Negotiation
     • Perceptions of parties and building relationships (Neutrality of the mediator, balancing power)
     • Negotiation techniques for environmental conflict resolution (distributive and integrative bargaining)
   • Implementation and aspects of agreement
     • Binding and non-binding agreements
     • Relationships and power
     • Accountability
     • Time frame
     • Moving forward

6. Unit VI. Collaborative policy and approaches to environmental conflict
   • The Need for a collaborative approach
   • Collaborative approaches to environmental decision making
   • Required conditions for a collaborative approach
     • Representation of multiple interests
     • Voluntary participation
     • Direct engagement
     • Mutual agreement on process and decision
     • Considering culture
   • Benefits of a collaborative approach
7. Unit VII. Environmental conflict management and collaborative approaches to conflict management
   • Customary systems and practises of conflict management
   • National legal systems for conflict resolution
   • Alternative conflict resolution
   • Balancing resolution and management
   • Human-wildlife conflict management strategy in Bhutan
     • Understanding the conflict
     • Spatial pattern of human-wildlife conflict
     • State’s measures and intervention
     • Habitat Improvement
     • Salt lick area management
     • Corridor management
     • Education and community awareness
     • Indigenous preventative measures

Reading List:

Essential Readings

Clarke, T.L., & Peterson T.R. (2015). Environmental conflict management. London, UK: Sage

Diehl, P., & Gleditsch, N. P. (Eds.). (2000). Environmental conflict: An anthology. London, UK: Routledge. 

O’Leary, R., & Bingham. (Eds). (2018). Promise of environmental conflict resolution. New York, NY: RFF Press.

Susskind, L., McKearnan, S., & Thomas-Larmer, J. (1999). The consensus building handbook: A comprehensive guide to reaching agreement. London, UK: Sage.

Additional Reading

Amy, D. (1987). The politics of environmental mediation. New York: Columbia University Press.

BenDor, T.K., & Scheffran, J. (2008). Agent-based modeling of environmental conflict and cooperation. FL: CRC Press,

Case, D. (1990). The community toolbox: the idea, methods and tools for Conflict management in community forestry. Community Forestry/FTPP.

Castro, A.P. & Ettenger, K. (1996). Indigenous knowledge and conflict management: exploring local perspectives and mechanisms for dealing with community forest disputes. Presented at the Global e-Conference on Addressing Natural Resource Conflict Through Community Forestry, Jan–Apr 1996. Forests, Trees and People Programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.

Homer-Dixon, T. F. (1999). Environment, scarcity, and violence. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.

Isenhart, M., & Spangle, M. (2000). Collaborative approaches to resolving conflict. London: Sage

Susskind, L., Verdini, B., Gordon, J., & Zaerpoor, Y. (2020). Environmental problem-solving: Balancing science and politics using consensus building tools. London: Anthem Press.

Date: June 2021