Workload: 40 hours per week
Faculty: Dr. C. Arnold
Assessment: paper and written examination

Content and objectives
Formulation and implementation of public policies is an important responsibility of modern government. Policy objectives and instruments get determined in the interaction between public authorities and stakeholders. Actors and institutions such as branches of government (including the executive, legislative and judiciary), political parties, interest groups, regulatory agencies, and non-governmental organizations and citizens are involved in policy-making to varying degrees, depending on the particular policy domain and phase of the policy process. Appropriate mechanisms of coordination and hierarchy in policy design and implementation enhance the potential for achieving stated objectives. Further, it is germane to making the political system conducive to participation and democracy. However, the inherent complexity of the policy process can sometimes lead to it being detrimental instead of facilitating the stated objectives. This course intends to explore these and other challenges involved in the policy process, its development and implementation. It deals with these issues with particular reference to telecommunication, health care, environment and migration policy.

The aim of this course is to provide a practical introduction to how public policy is made. We will focus on actors, institutions and policy instruments in order to gain a systematic way of thinking about the development, design and assessment of public sector policies. This course is designed to help students develop the skills required to define and critically analyze policy issues, articulate relevant decision-making criteria for policy analysis, evaluate alternative solutions, and assess the means and costs of implementation. These skills and techniques will help prepare students towards a career in policy analysis.


Literature

• Howelett, M., Ramesh, M., 2003. Studying Public Policy: Policy Cycles and Policy Subsystems. Oxford University Press.
• Demmke, C. (2001) ‘Towards Effective Environmental Regulation: Innovative Approaches in Implementing and Enforcing European Environmental Law and Policy’, Jean Monnet Working Paper 5/01.
• Demmke, C., 2004. “Trends in European Environmental Regulation. Issues of Implementation and Enforcement,” in: Yearbook of European Environmental Law, 2004, Vol. 3, Oxford Press, pp.329.
• Greenwood, Justin, Interest Representation in the European Union, Chapter 2: EU Decision-Making and Channels of Influence.
• Humphreys, James, Negotiating in the European Union, chapter 14, Lobbying.
• IOM, 2005. Migration and Development: Opportunities and Challenges for Policymakers.
• Kingdon, J.W., Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies, University of Michigan.
• Lenschow, Andrea, 2005. “Environmental Policy: Contending Dynamics of Policy Change.” in: Wallace & Wallace: Policy Making in the European Union. Oxford University Press.
• Maarse, H., “Privatisation in European Health Care: An Eight Country Study,” (forthcoming 2006).
• McCormick, John, 2005. Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction. Chapter 4: The Institutions of the EU. Palgrave.
• OECD, 2005. Environmental Key Indicators.
• OECD, 2005. Health at a Glance.
• Rossi, Peter H., Lipsey, Mark, W., Freeman, Howard, E., 2005. Evaluation A Systematic Approach. Seventh Edition, Sage Publications (pages to be determined).
• Alinsky, S. 1971. “Tactics”. From: Rules for Radicals. A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals. New York: Vintage
• Stone, D., 2001. Policy Paradox: the Art of Political Decision Making (revised 2nd edition).
• Tallberg, J., 2002. ‘Paths to Compliance: Enforcement, Management and the European Union’, International Organization, 56(3): 609-643.
• Thielemann, E.R., 2005. Symbolic Politics or Effective Burden-Sharing? Redistribution, Side-Payments and the European Refugee Fund. Journal of Common Market Studies, 43(4) 807-824.
• Pressman, J., Wildavsky, A., 1982. Implementation, University of California Press, 1984.
• Lenschow, Andrea, 2005. “Environmental Policy: Contending Dynamics of Policy Change.” in: Wallace & Wallace: Policy Making in the European Union. Oxford University Press.