Theory of Public Policy - JSM699

• Title: Theory of Public Policy
• Czech title: Teorie veřejné politiky
• Guaranteed by: Department of Public and Social Policy (23-KVSP)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2015 to 2015
• Semester: winter
• E-Credits: 4
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:2/0, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: 40 / unknown (40)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: Czech
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: prof. PhDr. Martin Potůček, CSc., M.Sc.
• Teacher(s): prof. PhDr. Martin Potůček, CSc., M.Sc.

Syllabus

Course title: THEORY OF PUBLIC POLICY

Course number: JSM699, Fall Semester 2015/16

Course website: http://www.martinpotucek.cz (slot Courses/Theory of Public Policy)

Volume of instruction: 2/0

Number of credits: 4

Time and place: Mondays, 3:30-6:20 pm, room 2080

Course leader: Prof. Martin Potůček, PhD. http://www.martinpotucek.cz

Consultations to be booked electronically at http://terms.fsv.cuni.cz

Goals of instruction:

The course aims to introduce students to the study of public policy as a discipline, within a broader context of the development of contemporary societies; to exemplify the ways public policy as a scientific discipline attempts to apprehend social problems; to do so by presenting the key approaches, terms, and theories of public policy (including examples of their application); and to engage students in critical thinking and studying and systematic work with scholarly literature.

Registration prerequisites:

Enrolment in any masters or doctoral study programme at Charles University, apart from

a)      students of masters programmes Veřejná a sociální politika (full-time students only), Public and Social Policy, and International Economic and Political Studies;

b)      students of doctoral programmes Veřejná a sociální politika and Public and Social Policy.

International visiting students studying masters and doctoral programmes at their home universities are welcome as well.

Conditions for passing:

Students will have to pass the written examination (in English, Czech or Slovak).

Final grading shall be based on the following key:

Score - written   examination	Grade
25 or more	Excellent   (výborně)
19 - 24	Very Good   (velmi dobře)
14 - 18	Good (dobře)
13 or less	Fail (neprospěl/a)

 

Course schedule:

Time: Mondays. Lectures 3:30-6:20 pm.

Day	Room	Content
5 Oct	2080	Lectures #1 and #2 Introduction to the course,   lectures and seminars. 1. Public interests and public policy. 2. Values in public policy. Historical Institutionalism.
19 Oct	2080	Lectures #3 and #4 3. Governance. Corporatist Intermediation. Policy Networks. 4. Actors and Institutions. Actor-Centered Institutionalism.
2 Nov	2080	Lectures 5# and #6 5. Public policy instruments. Discursive institutionalism. Advocacy   Coalition Framework. 6. Public policy as a process. Problem delimiting and recognition. Agenda   Setting.
16 Nov	---	Individual consultations.
23 Nov	2080	Lectures 7# and #8 7. Policy formulation and decision-making. Veto Players. Multiple   Streams Framework. 8. Implementation of public policies. Theories of Bureaucracy.   Principal-Agent Model.
7 Dec	2080 2083 3019	Lectures #9 and #10 9. Evaluation of public policies. Rational (Public) Choice Theory. 10. How to understand Public Policy Final recapitulation, getting   ready for the examination.
14 Dec	2080	Seminar #5 Presentations on framework topic "Public Policies". Submission of a   comprehensive draft of the final assignment.

 

Basic bibliography in English:

Howlett, M., Ramesh, M.: 2009. Studying Public Policy. Policy Cycles and Policy Subsystems. Oxford: oxford University Press.

Potůček, M., LeLoup, L., Jenei, G. and Váradi, L. 2003. Public Policy in Central and Eastern Europe: Theories, Methods, Practices. Bratislava: NISPAcee.

Routledge Handbook of Public Policy. 2013. London and New York: Routledge

Základní literatura v češtině:

Fiala, P. and Schubert, K. 2000. Moderní analýza politiky: Uvedení do teorií a metod policy analysis. Praha: Barrister & Principal.

Potůček, M. et al. Veřejná politika. 2005 (2^nd ed. 2010). Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství.

Potůček, M. Veřejná politika. 2015. Praha: C.H. BECK. V tisku. Rukopis je prezenčně k dispozici ve studovně Knihovny společenských věd T. G. Masaryka, Jinonice.

Veselý, A. and Nekola. M. (eds.) 2008. Analýza a tvorba veřejných politik: Přístupy, metody a praxe. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství.

Notes on literature study:

1.      Further literature is recommended on the course website, and will be submitted during individual lecture presentations.

2.      It is advisable to follow the electronic Central European Journal of Public Policy (CEJPP): http://www.cejpp.eu.

3.      Students are expected to follow the media covering policy problems on an ongoing basis.

Useful websites:

Center for Social and Economic Strategies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University in Prague  (CESES): http://ceses.cuni.cz

Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe (NISPAcee): http://www.nispa.sk

Portal of the Public Administration, Czech Republic: www.portal.gov.cz

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: www.oecd.org

World Bank: www.worldbank.org

European Union: www.europa.eu

Eurostat: http://epp.eurostat.cec.eu.int

Last update: Potůček Martin, prof. PhDr., CSc., M.Sc. (26.09.2016)