|
 Academic Year:
| 2015/6 |
| Owning Department/School:
| Department of Social & Policy Sciences |
| Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
Semester 2 |
| Assessment Summary:
| CW 100% |
| Assessment Detail: |
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites: | |
| Description:
| Aims: To explain the historical emergence of governance studies across different disciplines. To explore how different governance theories explain contemporary transformations of states, societies & political economy. To explain and critically evaluate the assumptions and narratives which underpin these 'governance theories', and how they shape our understanding of policy-making and political power. To explain and critically evaluate the implications of governance studies for key aspects of policy analysis, such as knowledge and evidence; accountability; public authority and power. Learning Outcomes: By the end of this unit, students will have: * Studied key texts relating to the analysis of transformations of states and societies in the contemporary world; * Critically analysed the role of international, state and non-state actors and political institutions involved in policy-making at different institutional levels. By the end of this unit students should be able to: * Apply different methodologies to expand their knowledge and understanding of the political and social theory literatures adopted to explain different forms of governing societies in the contemporary world. Skills: Intellectual skills: * To think creatively and analytically * To communicate an argument * To critically evaluate and assess research and evidence as well as a variety of other information * To synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding. Transferable/Key skills: * Essay research, preparation and writing skills * Group work skills * Policy research skills * Presentation skills and verbal communication (i.e. oral presentations, seminar contributions) Knowledge Outcomes: * Theoretical basis of different concepts towards understanding governance and its analysis * Knowledge of the current developments and contemporary research in the field of governance * Identification of international issues pertaining to governing contemporary societies. Content: PART I: Contemporary transformations and the emergence of 'governance' 1. Introduction -Why governance studies? What is government, governance, governing? The importance of 'complexity' 2. Changing institutions - decentralisation, regionalisation, global (WTO; end of Washington consensus) 3. Changing mechanisms - contracting, partnerships, 'privatisation', performance management, technocratization 4. Changing actors and roles - corporate actors, Third sector, regulatory authorities, hybridization PART II: Understanding and challenging governance narratives 5. Interpreting contemporary transformations - society-centred perspectives Kooiman, Bang & the 'Roskilde school', network governance 6. Interpreting contemporary transformations - state-centred perspectives Crouch, Streeck, and the (historical) institutionalists; Bevir and Rhodes 7. Interpreting contemporary transformations - critical perspectives Dean, Rose & governmentality; cultural political economy & the 'Lancaster school' PART III: From governance systems to governing processes 8. Knowledge and evidence as governance mechanisms - evidence production as political act: case studies 9. The challenges of accountability, power, and political change - locating power sources and networks: case studies 10. Constituting publics in governing processes - governing as public purpose and institution of public authority: case studies 11. 'Governance' as approach and critique: implications for policy analysis and methods 12. Unit review and essay advice. |
| Programme availability: |
SP50162 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Department of Social & Policy Sciences
SP50162 is Optional on the following programmes:Department of Social & Policy Sciences
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