Introductory description

The module complements the core and optional modules in existing PAIS MA courses.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

A. Policy Studies

1. Introduction
2. The History of Comparative Public Policy: from Weber to the Regulatory State.
3. Inter-Disciplinary Policy Studies and the Development of the Profession

B. Core Concepts:
4. The ‘Public’: public goods theory
5. The ‘Public’: concepts of the ‘public’
6. Reading Week
7. Rational Choice
8. Organised Interests
9. Institutions
10. Ideas and Ideology

C. Theories and Processes of Policy Change
11. The ‘Policy Process’ Heuristic
12. Garbage Cans, Policy Streams and Punctuated Equilibrium
13. Policy Networks
14. The Post-Modern Turn and Social Constructivism in Policy:
15. Policy Diffusion and Policy Learning:
16. Reading Week
17. Implementation Studies
18. Global Public Policy (or the Globalization of Public Policy)
19. ‘Speaking Truth to Power’? Evidence-based policy making
20. Democracy and Public Policy

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate in depth knowledge concerning different theoretical debates and their importance for thinking about public policy and governance
• Identify and comprehend and analyse different structures of governance and modes of policy making
• Analyse, compare and critically evaluate fundamental assumptions and arguments in the literature on governance and public policy

Indicative reading list

Hugh Bochel and Sue Duncan, Making Policy In Theory and Practice, The Policy Press, 2007.

H. K. Colebatch, Policy, Open University Press, 2005.

Maarten Hajer and Hendrik Wagenaar (eds) Deliberative Policy Analysis: Understanding Governance in the Network Society, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2003.

Michael Hill, The Public Policy Process, 4th ed. Longman 2004.

Michael Howlett & M Ramesh, Studying Public Policy: Policy Cycles and Policy Subsystems, OUP Canada, 2003.

Michael Moran, Martin Rein and Robert E Goodin. (Eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Public Policy, Oxford University Press, 2006.

Wayne Parson, Public Policy, Edward Elgar, 1996

Jon Pierre, Debating Governance: Authority, Steering, and Democracy Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.

C. Pollitt, & G. Bokhaert. Public Management Reform Oxford: Oxford University Press, second edition 2004.

Beryl Radin, Beyond Machiavelli: Policy Analysis Comes of Age, Georgetown University Press, 2000

Paul A. Sabatier, Theories of the Policy Process, Westview Press, 1999

Deborah Stone, Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision Making, W. W. Norton & Co., 1997

Subject specific skills

(c) Cognitive Skills

• Construct and substantiate an argument
• The ability to devise a viable research
  essay topic in areas relevant to the module

(d) Subject-Specific/Professional Skills · Proficiency in using web-based documentation and databases · Students will improve their capacity to undertake further postgraduate study in political science and international relations

Transferable skills

(b) Key Skills · Written communication skills · Oral communication skills · Working with others · Problem solving · Information technology