The political science group does research on the use and effect of policy instruments. This involves research on general action plans as well as on specific policy instruments including market-based or economic instruments, administrative regulation and information-based instruments. Studies of policy are carried out on several levels, be it analyses of individual actors, decision processes or institutions. The political scientists furthermore do research on general issues within implementation and public administration, as they relate to the field of environmental policy and politics. A broad array of methodologies are applied, including both qualitative and quantitative methods as well as comparative analyses across countries and sectors.

The political scientists cooperate extensively with environmental economists, sociologists and geographers.

The following are specific examples of research carried out by the political science group

• comparative studies of implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive
• a number of analyses of externality costs at the EU level. stemming from polluting activities
• an analysis of the organisational setup and effectiveness of monitoring and control of polluting businesses
• studies of the effect of pesticide policies and causes for their ineffectiveness
• analysis of the institutional barriers for the spread of biofuels in Denmark
• comparative analyses of the integration of climate policy into other policies in a number of EU member states
• comparative analyses of economic policy instruments within the field of water policy in the EU member states
• comparative analyses of the effects of ecological tax reform

Examples of current projects (presenting abstracts)

• BSR INTERREG III - Waterpraxis
• EXIOPOL
• BIOSOC
• Barriers in farmer decision-making regarding pesticide use
• Optimering af landbrugskons. rolle som virkemiddel (Optimising the effect of  agricultural advisory services)
• How2Use
• E-lup
• Monitoring and compliance
• EU agricultural policy and the Danish regulation of pesticides
• EPI-Water

Examples of completed research projects:

• Eurolimpacs
• COMETR 

Courses taught

• Master degree programme, Biology at AU: Course on Nature and Environment Policies (5ECTS)  ); contribution to course on Management of Nature and the Environment  and in Environmental Studies  Kandidatuddannelsen Biologi AU: Kursus i natur- og miljøpolitik (5 ECTS og bidrager til undervisningen i natur- og miljøforvaltning (10 ECTS) og i Environmental Studies (30 ECTS).
• Contributes to master’s programme at AU – School of Business – Master in Environmental and Energy Law (MEEL) Bidrager til undervisning på masterkursus på AU-Aarhus School of Business - Master in Environmental and Energy Law (MEEL).
• Bachelor degree programme, Department of Political Science, AU: BA course in Public Administration
• Master degree programme, Department of Political Science, AU. Graduate seminars in local government reform, implementation, policy analysis, EU environmental policy and behavioural economics. Undervisning på Institut for Statskundskab AU: bachelorseminar samt seminarer på kandidatuddannelsen, grundfag i offentlig forvaltning
• Master degree programme, Agricultural Sciences Faculty, AU: Contribute to the course Agricultural policy and Environmental Regulation. Kandidatuddannelse på Det Jordbrugsvidenskabelige Fakultet på kurset Agricultural Policy and Environmental Regulation.
• Censoring at Copenhagen University, LIFE

The following link to abstracts regarding educational activities of the political scientists

• Master Miljø- og Energiret

http://www.asb.dk/article.aspx?pid=3095

http://science.au.dk/uddannelse/undervisning/tilvalg/natur-og-miljoeforvaltning/´

Members:

Helle Ørsted Nielsen

Anders Branth Pedersen

Mikael Skou Andersen (on leave)