Summer Timetable
POL317H1F L0101
Comparative Public Policy
Themes
This course serves as an introduction to public policy, with a focus on wealthy democracies. We will begin by looking at the questions that motivate many studies of policy: Who controls the actions of democratic states? Whose preferences are enacted? Why do policies differ across time and space? Why do they change? These questions cut to the heart of all democratic theories. They are also crucial to understanding your roles as a participant in a democratic society, whether as a voter, a policy-maker, a tax-payer, or a service user. We will then examine four clusters of policies. When we are finished, you will be able to describe policy variation on these issues. This description will enable you to analyze theories of policy formation, making a critical judgement about their explanatory power. Finally, you will also be able to communicate your description and analysis with others.
Format and Requirements
Participation, attendance, policy memoranda (2), and long essay.
Prerequisites
1.0 credit in POL/ JPA/ JPF/ JPI/ JPR/ JPS/ JRA courses
Exclusions
January 29, 2024
The winners of the 2022-2023 undergraduate awards were announced at the annual celebration, held this year on the evening of January 25. Presiding over the award ceremony were Undergraduate Director...
January 26, 2023
Congratulations to our 2021/22 undergraduate award & scholarship recipients! Following a two-year hiatus, the department was delighted to return to hosting our undergraduate awards in-person this year to celebrate our...
June 3, 2021
In a bid to motivate her students in what has been a very difficult academic year, Professor Rebecca Kingston decided to give those enrolled in the winter 2021 term of...
May 21, 2020
Congratulations to undergraduate student Cheryl Cheung who has received a University of Toronto Excellence Award (UTEA). Going into her third year majoring in political science, with minors in visual studies...
January 29, 2020
Congratulations to all our amazing undergraduate students who picked up one the department’s twenty-three awards and scholarships at our annual undergraduate awards ceremony. In attendance were Dean of Arts &...