Module description
This module provides students with a thorough understanding of public policy in Europe and how the EU and national governments deal with different contemporary challenges. The module is split into two broad parts. The first deals with public policy processes and institutions and the second with specific areas of public policy in Europe. Specific topics in part one include an examination of the actors and institutions involved in making public policy, the importance of agenda-setting in policy making and a discussion of the most important theories of public policy making. The second part of the module considers in-depth the challenges and opportunities that European governments face in the areas of welfare, immigration, fiscal and labour market policy. It will place its analytical focus particularly on the economic and financial crisis and the refugee and migration crisis. The module considers policy and policy making in Europe looking at the complex inter-play between the national and the EU-level. The module will study selected public policies, their 'EU-ization' and cross-national variation. The course concludes with a discussion of the role of the nation states in policy-making and the responsiveness of the EU and the national governments to citizens' preferences in "testing times" for Europe.
*Please note that module information is provisional and may change from year to year.
Assessment details
One 2000 word essay or policy evaluation (85%) and one 1500 word policy review (15%)
Educational aims & objectives
By the end of the module the students will be able to demonstrate intellectual, transferable and practical skills appropriate to level 6 modules and in particular will be able to demonstrate the ability to:
- demonstrate a knowledge of comparative public policy analysis in terms of its origins, goals, concepts, and analytical tools;
- demonstrate a knowledge of the external influences on and major trends affecting national politics and public policy;
- demonstrate a knowledge of key issues affecting European citizens and how governments and EU institutions govern these issues;
- Critically assess the potential and limitations of key theoretical approaches.
- Seek out key information on public policy in national and European settings
- Effectively communicate information and argument in oral and written form
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module the students will be able to demonstrate intellectual, transferable and practical skills appropriate to level 6 modules and in particular will be able to demonstrate the ability to:
- demonstrate a knowledge of comparative public policy analysis in terms of its origins, goals, concepts, and analytical tools;
- demonstrate a knowledge of the external influences on and major trends affecting national politics and public policy;
- demonstrate a knowledge of key issues affecting European citizens and how governments and EU institutions govern these issues;
- Critically assess the potential and limitations of key theoretical approaches.
- Seek out key information on public policy in national and European settings
- Effectively communicate information and argument in oral and written form
Teaching pattern
One 2-hour seminar, weekly
Week 1: The European policy-cycle
Week 2: Agenda-setting
Week 3: Decision-making: actors and institutions
Week 4: Theories of public policy
Week 5: Policy evaluation and learning
Week 6: European Welfare States
Week 7: European immigration policy
Week 8: Fiscal policy and austerity in Europe
Week 9: Environmental policy in Europe
Week 10: Rolling back Europe & global governance?
Note that this teaching schedule is provisional and subject to change.
Suggested reading list
There is no single-textbook for this module. Chapters included in the books indicated below are useful for several classes:
- J. R. Adolino & C. H. Blake (2010). Comparing Public Policies: Issues and Choices in Industrialised Countries. Washington: CQ Press.
- J. Richardson and S. Mazey (eds) European Union: power and policy-making. Abingdon and New York: Routledge (2015)
- A. Schaefer and W. Streeck (eds) Politics in the Age of Austerity. Cambridge: Polity (2013)