Current Issues in Public Policy - JSM703

• Title: Current Issues in Public Policy
• Form of teaching: lecture
• Guaranteed by: Department of Public and Social Policy (23-KVSP)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2026
• Duration in semesters: 1
• Semester: winter
• E-Credits: 4
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:1/0, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: 15 / unknown (25)
• Maximum number of enrolled students: 25
• Min. number of students: 8
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Additional information: https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=5152
• Repeated enrollment: 2 / 2 / 1 / 2
• 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. Arnošt Veselý, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): Mgr. Mariam Gabunia; prof. PhDr. Arnošt Veselý, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students

Annotation

This year, the course will address some of the current issues of public policy raised by the continuing global conflicts and political developments in the United States. The course will also consider the importance of truth and freedom of speech. The focus will be on exploring public policy issues in a broader political context.
Moodle:
https://dl1.cuni.cz/enrol/instances.php?id=5152
Password: 2026

Last update: Veselý Arnošt, prof. PhDr., Ph.D. (19.08.2026)

Literature

Snyder, Timothy. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York: Tim Duggan Books. (2017), published in both English and Czech

● Other suggested readings will be available in Moodle

Last update: Veselý Arnošt, prof. PhDr., Ph.D. (12.09.2025)

Course assessment methods and requirements for successful completion, grading scheme

For passing the course it is necessary to fulfill all requirements formulated below, i.e., class participation and final paper.

 

Class participation

- Students are required to attend in person all 3 classes and be prepared to participate in class discussions and exercises.

 

Final essay

-         At the end of the course, a student is required to write a short paper in which he/she will choose an issue of public policy, argue both sides, and make a conclusion.

-         The approximate length of the paper is 5 double spaced pages, in English.

-         Deadline for the paper is December 17, 2025.

-         The final paper must be uploaded via Moodle.

 

Use of Generative AI Tools in This Course

In this course, students are expected to write a final argumentative essay on a contemporary topic of their choice. The essay must present and evaluate arguments for and against the chosen position and reflect the complexity of the issue. Given the increasing availability of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude), the following rules apply to their use:

1. Permitted Uses of AI

You may use generative AI tools, with disclosure:

• to check spelling and grammar correctness (in English), but it should not rephrase your work or introduce vocabulary that you would not otherwise use;
• as a support tool for understanding key terms or general background.

AI can be used as an aid, but it should not replace your own intellectual work!

2. Prohibited Uses of AI

You must not use AI to:

• generate ideas or explore potential essay topics; the point of this assignment is to explore and research a topic which you are passionate about;
• structure or brainstorm your arguments and counterarguments; you should look for “both sides” on your own;
• generate any part of the essay and claim it as your own work;
• violate academic integrity, bypassing your responsibility to think and write independently.

Such behavior may be considered plagiarism or academic misconduct and will be addressed in line with Charles University’s academic regulations.

3. Transparency Requirement

If you use generative AI in any stage of writing your essay, you must:

• include a brief note at the end of your essay (e.g., in a footnote or final paragraph), stating:
  “I used generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) for the following purposes: [...]. All ideas, writing, and arguments presented are my own.”
• be prepared to defend your essay orally if requested, including all arguments and sources, without the aid of AI.

4. Further Guidance

• Recommendations regarding the use of generative artificial intelligence at Charles University: https://ai.cuni.cz/AIEN-13.html
• Methodological Guidelines on Generative AI (FSV UK, June 2024, in Czech only):
  https://fsv.cuni.cz/sites/default/files/uploads/files/FSV%20-%20metodika%20ke%20generativn%C3%AD%20AI.pdf

Violation of these rules may result in the essay not being accepted or in disciplinary proceedings under Charles University’s regulations.

  Grading 

The final essays will be graded A-F according to the following criteria:

-         Structure, organization, and internal coherence of the essay

-         Insight into the topic, originality, and use of evidence

-         Clarity of arguments 

-         Formal aspects (ie. references with page citations)

Citations should reference the page and chapter of the cited text. Yes, I know that is more work! The style of citation does not matter, so long as it is consistent.

 

 

 

Last update: Veselý Arnošt, prof. PhDr., Ph.D. (12.09.2025)

Syllabus

Course Outline

1. The War in Ukraine
2. Israel and Palestine
3. Iran
4. Truth and Free Speech

○      Importance, current events, and challenges

1. America, Democracy, and Trump

○      Presidential power, US midterm elections, and the Supreme Court

1. Climate Change
2. Threats of Autocracy and Tyranny

○      Class Discussion

1. Finale: Joan Baez and Václav Havel

 

 

Readings

● Required: Snyder, Timothy. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York: Tim Duggan Books. (2017), published in both English and Czech

● Other suggested readings will be available in Moodle

 

Last update: Veselý Arnošt, prof. PhDr., Ph.D. (19.08.2026)

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing the course, the student will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

1. Identify and define key concepts related to contemporary public policy challenges, including polarization, democracy vs. authoritarianism, free speech, truth, climate change, and global conflicts.
2. Describe the historical background and current state of selected global conflicts (e.g. Ukraine, Israel–Palestine) and their relevance for public policy.
3. Explain the main political, ethical, and legal tensions related to freedom of speech, regulation of the internet, and the notion of truth in democratic societies.

Application and Analysis

1. Apply relevant public policy concepts and frameworks to analyze contemporary political developments in the United States and Europe.
2. Analyze a selected public policy issue by identifying its key actors, competing values, and policy trade-offs.
3. Compare and contrast alternative policy positions and arguments related to major contemporary challenges (e.g. democracy vs. authoritarianism, climate change responses).

Evaluation and Argumentation

1. Critically assess arguments for and against different public policy positions using evidence and reasoned justification.
2. Evaluate the implications of specific public policies for democratic governance, civil liberties, and societal resilience.

Synthesis and Communication

1. Formulate and defend a coherent, well-structured written argument in English that presents competing perspectives on a chosen public policy issue.
2. Write an analytical essay that integrates empirical evidence, normative considerations, and clear conclusions, in accordance with academic standards of argumentation and citation.

 

Alignment with assessment

• Outcomes 1–6 are primarily developed through class participation and discussions.
• Outcomes 7–10 are directly assessed in the final argumentative essay, which requires students to argue both sides of a policy issue and reach a reasoned conclusion.

 

Last update: Veselý Arnošt, prof. PhDr., Ph.D. (19.01.2026)