Current Issues in Public Policy - JSM703

• Title: Current Issues in Public Policy
• Guaranteed by: Department of Public and Social Policy (23-KVSP)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2016 to 2016
• Semester: summer
• E-Credits: 4
• Examination process: summer s.:
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:12/0, C [HT]
• Capacity: unlimited / unknown (30)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Additional information: https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=5152
• 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. Wendell Goddard; prof. PhDr. Arnošt Veselý, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): prof. Wendell Goddard; prof. PhDr. Arnošt Veselý, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students

Annotation

Last update: prof. PhDr. Arnošt Veselý, Ph.D. (15.07.2020)

The course addresses some of the current issues of public policy in the United States and recent developments in Europe. The focus will be upon concrete legal cases that will be explained in non-legal jargon and in a broader political context. The course will also cover other issues of public policy such as regulation of the internet, privacy, freedom of speech and national security.

Syllabus

Last update: prof. PhDr. Arnošt Veselý, Ph.D. (15.07.2020)

Questions to be Considered

Part I - What are the public policy and political issues raised by the impeachment and trial of the U.S. president and the upcoming elections? Is the gap closing between liberal democracy and authoritarianism? How has Europe responded to Trump's declaration of "America first"?

Part II - What are the ethical and legal considerations in the interplay between free speech, privacy and national security?

This course will provide an open forum to discuss all these questions.

 

Course Outline

I. Public Policy Issues raised by the Electoral Process in the U.S.

A. Background: U.S. Constitution

· Article II, Section 1 & the 12^th Amendment: Electoral college vs. popular vote

· Article II, Section 4: Provisions for Impeachment & Removal

B. Voting Rights Issues

· Gerrymandered voting districts

· Access to voting: Requirements for voter identification

C. Impeachment of the U.S. President

· Divided Government: Shifting balance of power between the Democratic House

   of Representatives and Republican Senate

· Mueller Investigation: Collusion with Russia and Obstruction of Justice

· Impeachment in the House and Trial in the Senate

· Role of the Supreme Court

· Distinctions between Criminal Indictment and Court Trial

D. Social Issues: Does Truth Matter?

· Fake news/“post-truth”/“alternative facts”: What can be done?

· Free speech considerations, regulation of the internet

E. The Erosion of Democracy

Ÿ Donald Trump

· California’s resistance to policies of the federal government

F. A Broader Look at Europe: A Swing to the Right

Ÿ Czech Republic and other countries

G. Finding Middle Ground

· Lessons from the 20th century, On Tyranny

H. Q&A: Questions and Answers

 

II. Selected Issues in Public Policy Update: Ethical and Legal Perspectives

A. Interplay between Free Speech, Privacy and National Security

B. Philosophical Underpinnings

C. Privacy and the Right to be Forgotten

· Spanish case against Google

D. Free Speech

· Advocacy of violence: Brandenburg v. Ohio

· Self-regulation of social media

· Two movies: The Post and Official Secrets

E. Campus Issues

· Restrictions on speech, safe spaces and sanctuaries

F. Public Policy Concerns in the World We Live In

· Conflicts in the Middle East

· Global warming, taxation, yellow vests and general strikes in France

· Terrorist attacks, invasions of privacy and immigration

· Continued debate over Trump’s proposed wall and DACA

· A world of walls

 

Readings

-       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 shortly in moodle.

 

Course requirements

The course is graded simply as "pass" or "fail." For passing the course it is necessary to fulfill all requirements formulated below, i.e., class participation and final paper.

 

Class participation

-       Students are expected to attend 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 (from several to be provided), 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 Friday May 29, 2020 (4 p.m.)

-       The final paper must be uploaded via moodle.

 

Schedule

Day	Time	Room
Monday, April 20, 2020	14.00-16.50	3018
Wednesday, April 22, 2020	14.00-16.50	3018
Friday, April 24, 2020	14.00-16.50	3018

 

Deadline for submitting the final essay: May 29, 2020 (4 p.m.).

Contacts:

Wendell Goddard: [e-mail]

Karel Gargulák: [e-mail]

Arnošt Veselý: [e-mail]