Current Issues in Public Policy - JSM703

• Anglický název: Current Issues in Public Policy
• Zajišťuje: Katedra veřejné a sociální politiky (23-KVSP)
• Fakulta: Fakulta sociálních věd
• Platnost: od 2020 do 2021
• Semestr: letní
• E-Kredity: 4
• Způsob provedení zkoušky: letní s.:
• Rozsah, examinace: letní s.:12/0, Z [HT]
• Počet míst: neomezen / neurčen (30)
• Minimální obsazenost: 8
• 4EU+: ne
• Virtuální mobilita / počet míst pro virtuální mobilitu: ne
• Stav předmětu: nevyučován
• Jazyk výuky: angličtina
• Způsob výuky: prezenční
• Způsob výuky: prezenční
• Další informace: https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=5152
• Poznámka: předmět je možno zapsat mimo plán; povolen pro zápis po webu; při zápisu přednost, je-li ve stud. plánu
• Garant: prof. PhDr. Arnošt Veselý, Ph.D.
• Vyučující: prof. PhDr. Arnošt Veselý, Ph.D.
• Třída: Courses for incoming students

Anotace

Poslední úprava: prof. PhDr. Arnošt Veselý, Ph.D. (11.09.2023)

This year the course will address some of the current issues of public policy raised by the November 8 midterm elections in the United States, the war in Ukraine, and other recent developments in Europe. The focus will be on exploring public policy issues in a broader political context. The course will also cover other issues of public policy such as the importance of truth, regulation of the internet, privacy, freedom of speech, and national security.

Literatura

Poslední úprava: PhDr. Petr Bednařík, Ph.D. (12.08.2020)

Required:    

Snyder, Timothy. (2017). On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York: Tim Duggan Books.

Complementary:

Howlett, Michael, Michael Ramesh, a Anthony Perl. 2009. Studying Public Policy: Policy Cycles & Policy Subsystems. 3rd vyd. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Peters, B. Guy. 2015. Advanced introduction to public policy. Cheltenham (UK): Edward Elgar Publishing.

Požadavky ke zkoušce

Poslední úprava: prof. PhDr. Arnošt Veselý, Ph.D. (11.09.2023)

Course requirements

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 (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 January 13, 2023

-          The final paper must be uploaded via moodle.

 

Grading

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

-          Structure, organization and internal coherence of the essay

-          Insight into topic, originality and use of evidence

-          Clarity of arguments

-          Formal aspects (style, grammar, references)

Deadline for submitting the final essay: January 13, 2023

Sylabus

Poslední úprava: prof. PhDr. Arnošt Veselý, Ph.D. (15.07.2020)

Course Outline

This course will provide an open forum to discuss these questions:

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?

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

- California’s resistance to policies of the federal government

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

- Czech Republic and other countries

G. Finding Middle Ground

- Lessons from the 20th century, On Tyranny

 

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

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