Research and Theory in Public Policy and Governance

Catalog description

This seminar provides an overview of policy analysis, basic stages of the policy process, and key theoretical frameworks associated with the subject. The course also addresses ethics in policy analysis and policy analysis as a profession. The stages of the policy process will be considered in detail, from problem definition to termination. Key theories associated with each will be discussed. Additional concepts to be considered include: policy instruments, policy design, issue networks, policy typologies and the politics associated with each. The institutional context of these stages will be considered. Students will explore the impact of positivism and postpositivism on our understanding of policy. Finally, public policy will be examined in light of a variety of approaches to democratic theory and practice.