Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
SP50139 International policy analysis 1 |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Masters |
| Semester: 1 |
| Assessment: CW 100% |
| Requisites: |
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Aims:
* To provide students with a critical understanding of international policy-making; * To provide students with a critical understanding of different methodological approaches towards analysing international policy and with the ability to apply these to international policy issues and problems. * To provide students with a critical understanding of the institutional and policy environment within which governments, businesses and civil society organisations are shaping the global system; * To critically examine the policy choices and conflicts these actors present to each other and the issues of public and private responsibility which these raise. Learning Outcomes: By the end of this unit, students will have: * Studied key texts relating to the analysis of international policy-making * Explored the major methods and models of international policy analysis * Critically analysed the role of state and non-state actors and political institutions involved in international policy-making By the end of this unit students should be able to: * Apply different methodologies to analyse international policy issues and problems and to understand the international policy process. 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 international policy-making * Knowledge of the current developments and contemporary research in international policy analysis * Identification of international policy issues. Content: 1. Introduction and Overview 2. Policy Analysis: Key Concepts and Methods 3. Application to the International Policy Environment 4. International Political Economy, Governance and the International Policy Environment 5. International Institutions and Global Governance 6. Cases Studies (students will form groups to follow one of these case studies in greater depth) 7. Conclusion. |