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Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2011/12


SP50162: Governing contemporary societies

Click here for further information Credits: 6
Click here for further information Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Click here for further information Period: Semester 1
Click here for further information Assessment: CW 100%
Click here for further information Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites:
Click here for further information Description: Aims:
The aim of the course is to explore the political and social theories adopted to explain the transformations of states and societies in the contemporary world. The focus is on theories explaining state-society-economy relations in the 'developed' world, but throughout, emphasis will be placed on the multi-level, and uneven character of the change(s) which these theoretical positions seek to explain.

Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge and understanding of the political and social theory literatures adopted to explain the transformations of states and societies in the contemporary world.

Skills:
Ability to analyse and evaluate critically these political and social theory literatures and to develop multidisciplinary perspectives on these issues.

Content:
1. Introduction:
* What is government, governance, governing?
* Main narratives of transformation & change.
2. Problematising governing
* Necessity of governing - what, by whom, limits to governing; creating political/public/social through governing processes.
* What transformation & change?
3. Society-centred perspectives
* Kooiman
* Foucault & Rose
4. State-centred perspectives
* Jessop
* Swank, Rueschemeyer, Hacker, Pierson
* Crouch, Streeck, Korpi, Thelen
5. Changing governing forms
* contracting, partnerships, 'privatisation', regulation, regionalisation (sub-national), governing performance.
6. Changing governing forms
* regional (supranational); global (WTO; end of Washington consensus);
7. Challenges to 'governance'
* what's new/changing, and for whom?
* criteria for evaluating 'governance' (hidden normative agendas of 'good' governance)
* possibilities for governing - what, by whom, limits...
Click here for further informationProgramme availability:

SP50162 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.