Course Syllabus

Course Title: THEORY OF PUBLIC POLICY

Course number: JSM588

Semester: Autumn 2023/2024

Course leader:

Prof. PhDr. Martin Potůček, CSc. MSc., http://www.martinpotucek.cz

The volume of instruction: 2/0

Number of credits: 6 Credits

In-person teaching will take place in room C122, U kříže 8, Prague 5-Jinonice on Mondays, once in two weeks, 15:30 - 18:20.

Moodle: https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=7794.

To apply, use your username and password for the Central Authentication Service of Charles University.

Consultations: https://konzultace.fsv.cuni.cz

Course attendance:

This course is offered to students in the first year of the International Economic and Political Studies program (IEPS), with a specialization in International Politics. Students of specialization in International Economics may apply as well if they wish.

Note:

Students of the 2^nd and 3^rd years of the International Economic and Political Studies program (both specializations) should enroll in the compulsory course JSM518 PUBLIC POLICY.

Goals of instruction:

The course provides a comprehensive introduction to public policy as a scientific discipline as published in the key textbook of the course leader (Public Policy, Karolinum 2017), which is available online free of charge on the Charles University eResources Portal. It defines its key terms, theories, and approaches in a broader context of the development of contemporary societies. Students will be engaged in critical thinking and studying, systematic work with scholarly literature, and active participation in lectures.

The timeline of lectures and seminars. Mondays, 15:30-18:20

Day

Content

2 Oct

Lecture #1

Introduction to the course.

A1 Public interests and public policy.

A2 Values in Public Policy. Historical Institutionalism.

16 Oct

Lecture #2

A3 Governance. Corporatist Intermediation. Policy networks.

A4 Actors and Institutions. Actor-Centered Institutionalism.

30 Oct

Lecture #3

A5 Public policy instruments. Discursive Institutionalism. Advocacy Coalition Framework.

A6 Public Policy Process. The Stage of Problem Delimitation and Problem Recognition. Agenda Setting.

13 Nov

This lecture will start exceptionally in 17:00 and be finished in 18:20.

Lecture #4

A7 Policy Formulation and Decisionmaking. Veto Players. Multiple Streams Framework.

27 Nov

Lecture #5

A8 Policy Implementation. Theories of Bureaucracy. Principal-Agent Model.

A9 Policy Evaluation. Rational (Public) Choice Theory.

11 Dec

Lecture #6

A10 How to Understand Public Policy

Final recapitulation, getting ready for the written examination.

Anti-plagiarism and citing rules

Plagiarism refers to cases where students are not properly citing sources in an assignment, but copying other authors' work, ideas, materials, or data, and passing them off as their own. This also pertains to copying parts of earlier work without properly acknowledging it.

Charles University treats instances of plagiarism very seriously. Any form of plagiarism is unacceptable and will be dealt with using official procedures. Therefore, students are advised to take special precautions and make sure that they cite all the sources they are using in their assignments properly.

The results of the final examination will be the final proof of students´ continuous study of the recommended literature and engagement in lectures. It will be in the format of several thematic issues to be answered in written in the classroom, without access to the Internet or any electronic device. Duration three hours.

Conditions for passing:

Students will have to pass the written examination.

Final grading:

Evaluation points	Grade
46 – 50	A	Excellent (výtečně)
41 – 45	B	Very Good (velmi dobře)
36 – 40	C	Good (dobře)
31 – 35	D	Satisfactorily (uspokojivě)
26 – 30	E	Sufficiently (dostatečně)
25 or less	F	Fail (nedostatečně)

Basic Sources in English

Potůček, M. et al. 2017. Public Policy. A comprehensive introduction. Prague, Karolinum Press. This is the key textbook for this course. It is available free of charge for students of Charles University on the ChU eResources Portal, EBook Academic Collection (EBSCO).

Fischer, F. Policy Expertise and the Argumentative Turn. 2013. Revue Francaise de Science Politique. 63(3-4) 579-601. https://www.cairn-int.info/article-E_RFSP_633_0579--policy-expertise-and-the-argumentative.htm

Goodin, R. E., M. Rein, M. Moran. The Oxford Handbook of Public Policy. Oxford, 2008. Oxford University Press. https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199548453.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780199548453-e-001

Howlet, M., Ramesh, M., Perl, A. 2009. 3rd edition. Studying Public Policy: Policy Cycles and Policy Subsystems. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Peters, Guy B.: 2015. Advanced Introduction to Public Policy. Northampton: Edward Elgar Publishing.

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.

Smith, K.B., Larimar, CH.W. 2017. The Public Policy Theory Primer. Boulder: Westview Press.

Notes on reading

· Further reading will be provided during individual lecture presentations.

· Students are expected to follow the media that cover policy problems on an ongoing basis.

Journals

Public Policy

Journal of Public Policy: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PUP

Journal of European Public Policy: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rjpp20/current

Journal of European Social Policy: http://esp.sagepub.com/

Central European Journal of Public Policy (CEJPP): https://sciendo.com/journal/CEJPP

Policy and Society: https://academic.oup.com/policyandsociety

Public Policy and Administration: http://ppa.sagepub.com/

Global Policy: https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/

Policy Analysis