Summer Timetable

POL317H1F L0101

Comparative Public Policy

Themes

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the comparative study of public policy. While many other disciplines, such as economics and sociology, are interested in public policy, this course investigates the role that political factors play in policy making. Accordingly, the distribution of power, the role of political strategy, and ideological conflict will be prominent themes throughout. The first part of this course will introduce students to various theories of politics and policy making, focusing on the role of public opinion, historical factors, material interests, political institutions, and policy makers and their ideas. The first half is designed to equip students with a set of analytical tools that will enable them to conduct comparative political inquiry. In the second half of the course, we will turn to several specific policy areas and draw on the theoretical tools developed in the first part of the course. By comparing how different national and/or sub-national governments respond to similar challenges, students will identify which set of factors are most influential in a given jurisdiction at a particular time. Policy fields will include taxation policy, energy policy, social policy and morality policy.

Texts

All required and recommended readings will be available through Blackboard.

Format and Requirements

Participation (15%), research proposal (15%), mid-term test (30%), and a research paper (40%).

Prerequisites

1.0 credit in POL/ JPA/ JPF/ JPI/ JPR/ JPS/ JRA courses

Exclusions