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SP50162: Governing contemporary societies

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2012/3
Follow this link for further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Follow this link for further information on credits Credits: 6
Follow this link for further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Follow this link for further information on period slots Period: Semester 2
Follow this link for further information on unit assessment Assessment: CW 100%
Follow this link for further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Follow this link for further information on unit rules Requisites:
Follow this link for further information on unit content 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...
Follow this link for further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

SP50162 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • THSP-AFM13 : MSc International Public Policy Analysis (Full-time)
  • THSP-APM13 : MSc International Public Policy Analysis (Part-time)
  • THSP-AFM07 : MSc Wellbeing & Human Development (Full-time)
  • THSP-APM07 : MSc Wellbeing & Human Development (Part-time)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2012/13.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.