Public Policy and Governance (PGOV 101) Fall 2021 Professors Dr. Adam Lajeunesse (alajeune@stfx.ca) Office: MULH 4051 Office Hours: Wednesday 1:00-2:25 or by appointment Class Location MULH 2030 Class Times Monday: 3:45-5:00 Wednesday: 2:15-3:30 Dr. Peter Kikkert (pkikkert@stfx.ca) Office: MULH 4049 Office Hours: Monday 1:30-3:30 or by appointment Course Description A society’s ability to rationally consider different perspectives, approach problems from multiple directions, and discuss issues with an open mind, is closely linked with the health and well-being of its political discourse and governance system. Likewise, critical thinking and problem solving are at the foundation of effective policymaking, along with research, analysis, communication, and teamwork. The overarching objective of this course is to create a space where you can practice these skills and endeavour to think rationally, creatively, and empathetically as you consider how to best shape the world around you. In this class, you will discuss ideas with people from different backgrounds and perform hands-on public policy research on topics of pressing concern to Canada and the world. We will explore questions such as: What is public policy and how is it made? What are the staples of effective governance? How might we best approach complex problems as a society? What are some of the indicators of good leadership? The ultimate learning goals for PGOV 101 include developing superior research, writing, and analytical skills – all of which can be directed towards a better and more nuanced understanding of complex public policy challenges. Course Objectives Through a combination of interactive lectures, discussions, and readings this course will provide students with the opportunity: This study source was downloaded by 100000795913113 from CourseHero.com on 09-08-2023 10:14:43 GMT -05:00 https://www.coursehero.com/file/142148943/PGOV-SYLLABUSpdf/ 1 • • • • To become acquainted with the world of public affairs and the role of public leadership To understand the importance of public policy and its role in meeting challenges facing Canada and the world To understand the link between effective policy outcomes and good governance To explore key sets of contemporary challenges including their historical, intellectual, and socio-economic context Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course, students will have demonstrated the ability: • • • • • To describe the role of leadership in governance and policy formation To identify and describe the context in which the policy making process occurs in Canada To be able to isolate and judge competing arguments and claims in policy discourse To critically evaluate contemporary Canadian and global policy and governance issues, including the background of these problems and competing proposals for addressing them Use the skills required of professional policy analysts and public administrators – critical thinking, research, creative problem solving, teamwork, organization, effective communication. Achieving Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes Attendance and Participation: To be successful in PGOV 101 you will have to attend class. Only by being present and engaged will you be able to keep up with the course materials and effectively participate in the discussions and interactive activities that we will tackle. Creating a Respectful and Interactive Environment: We will discuss complex and controversial policy issues this term. We ask that you work with us to create a respectful environment that fosters the sharing of multiple perspectives, approaches, and interpretations. The ability to bridge ideological or values-based divides to find common ground is an important one in the fields of governance and public policy. Reading: Please complete the assigned readings for each week (which you will find in the course schedule below). The readings will provide important supplemental information to the lectures and allow you to more meaningfully participate in class discussions – which will make the course more interesting for you. Importantly, the readings will also help you to succeed in the course assignments. While not a formal part of your weekly readings, we strongly encourage you to stay up to date on current events and contemporary policy issues and debates – read, watch, and listen to the news! Electronic Device Policy: You are welcome to use computers or other electronic devices to take notes during class. Please refrain from using electronic devices for personal reasons during lectures and discussions. We’re Here to Help: If you ever have any questions or concerns about the course materials or assignments please do not hesitate to ask. We are here to help you succeed in this course. This study source was downloaded by 100000795913113 from CourseHero.com on 09-08-2023 10:14:43 GMT -05:00 https://www.coursehero.com/file/142148943/PGOV-SYLLABUSpdf/ 2 Required Readings Required readings are available electronically or will be posted on Moodle. Office Hours Office hours are listed at the top of page one and students are encouraged to make use of them! If these times don’t fit your schedule, please email a professor and set up an appointment. We can also set up virtual office hours if you would prefer to use Zoom. Course Assignments Assignment Value Due Date Attendance/Participation 10% Continuous In-Class Group Work 15% 20 Sept/15 Nov/29 Nov Policy Options Briefing Note / Op-Ed 1 15% 6 October Policy Options Briefing Note / Op-Ed 2 20% 17 November Midterm 20% 25 October Final Exam 20% TBD * More information on these assignments can be found on Moodle. Check the “assignments” folder. Attendance/Participation The course depends on active and ongoing participation by all class members. Attendance – which we will take at the beginning of each class – constitutes the majority of this grade. Throughout the term, you will also have the chance to participate in discussions, debates, creative problem-solving sessions, and other inclass and online activities, which will contribute to your final grade. You can find further information in the instructions and rubric posted to the Assignments folder in Moodle. In-Class Group Work Over the course of the term, we will conduct three in-class group activities: a PESTLE analysis (5%); a budget simulation (5%); and an emergency management simulation (5%). These activities will be completed over the course of one class and will culminate with a group submission – no preparatory work required! Further details will be provided in class. Policy Options Briefing Note or Op-Ed x 2 (1,000-1,300 words) What are the policy options? How should we tackle this issue? Whether you are in the public service, a member of parliament, head of an NGO, or on your local town council, these are questions you will have to explore as you search for solutions and strategies to address longstanding or brand-new problems and opportunities. In your two writing assignments in PGOV 101, you must provide options for how to address contemporary policy challenges. Potential topics will be provided by the professors, but students may also propose their own policy issues. For each assignment, you can choose to produce a formal briefing note or an op-ed style article. Each note or op-ed should be between 1,000 and 1,300 words, exclusive of references. Briefing notes are short documents designed to inform decision-makers about a policy issue and suggest possible actions they can take. They provide context, analyze problems, and express policy options – for This study source was downloaded by 100000795913113 from CourseHero.com on 09-08-2023 10:14:43 GMT -05:00 https://www.coursehero.com/file/142148943/PGOV-SYLLABUSpdf/ 3 this assignment, you must provide three viable options to address your challenge. Briefing notes should be clear, concise, and reliable, and must follow a specific template. The ability to write an effective briefing note is vital for anyone involved in the field of public policy. While briefing notes are a style of policy writing most often employed within government, op-eds are generally used in the public sphere. While briefing notes are designed to be somewhat objective, op-eds are openly subjective and highly opinionated, taking strong stands on issues, and are usually conversational in tone. If you choose to produce an op-ed for this assignment, you must convince your audience to adopt the solution that you are proposing. Each assignment must be properly referenced and employ a minimum of four sources. Further instructions, templates, and rubrics can be found in the assignment folder on Moodle. Midterm The midterm will be an in-class test made up of short answer questions. The exam will take place during class hours. Final The Final Exam will cover class material since the midterm with short and long answer questions. The exam will be two hours in length, Course Schedule Welcome: What to Expect in PGOV 101 September 8 Readings: • Carefully read over the course syllabus and all assignment instructions/rubrics (found in the Assignments folder on Moodle) A Short Introduction to Governance and Public Policy: The Basics September 13 / 15 Readings: • Mark Bevir, Governance: A Very Short Introduction, Chapter 4, Public Governance, 57-79 (posted to Moodle) • Centre for Public Impact, A Brief Introduction to Evidence-informed Policymaking A Guide to Policy Analysis and Policy Writing September 20 In-Class Group Work: PESTLE Analysis September 22 Democratic Governance: Making the Sausage This study source was downloaded by 100000795913113 from CourseHero.com on 09-08-2023 10:14:43 GMT -05:00 https://www.coursehero.com/file/142148943/PGOV-SYLLABUSpdf/ 4 Readings: • Lisa Young, “Advocacy Groups and Canadian Democracy,” Ch.1. Policy Actors and Influence September 27 Readings: • David Johnson, “Thinking Government,” pp. 77-104. The Wickedness in Wicked Problems September 29 Readings: • Brian W. Head and John Alford, “Wicked Problems: Implications for Public Policy and Management,” Administration & Society 47 (6) (2015): 711-739. The Courts in Policy Making October 4 Readings: • Raymond Bazowski, “Judicial Politics in the Age of the Charter,” in Canadian Politics, 6th ed., ed. James Bickerton and Alain Gagnon. Case Study Trans Mountain Pipeline October 6 / 13 Readings: Overview of federalism in: George MacLean and Duncan Wood, “Politics” 2nd Edition, 162-176. Case Study The Oceans Protection Plan: At the Intersection of Marine, Environmental, Conservation, and Indigenous Policy October 18 / 20 October 25 Readings: • Access the Oceans Protection Plan Initiatives Map and review the different projects and programs associated with the OPP. Review all initiatives and come to class prepared to discuss at least four of them in detail. Click on the news release link on each initiative for additional information. View the initiatives map at: https://www.tc.gc.ca/en/campaigns/oceans-protection-plan-initiativesmap.html. Midterm This study source was downloaded by 100000795913113 from CourseHero.com on 09-08-2023 10:14:43 GMT -05:00 https://www.coursehero.com/file/142148943/PGOV-SYLLABUSpdf/ 5 Case Study A Failure to Learn: Pandemics, Lessons Learned, and Public Policy October 27 / Nov 1 Readings: • Auditor General of Canada, Pandemic Preparedness, Surveillance, and Border Control Measures (Office of the Auditor General, March 2021) Case Study Pandemic: The Economics of COVID-19 November 3 November 15 Readings: • Michale Smart, “Fiscal Policy” Overview, https://financesofthenation.ca/2021/05/07/fiscal-policy-in-the-covidrecession-an-early-assessment/ • Alex Himelfarb, “More Federal Debt Can Help Build a Better Canada” https://financesofthenation.ca/2021/03/05/more-federal-debtcan-help-build-a-better-canada/ • Jake Fuss and Steve Lafleur, “Growing Debt Burden” https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/growing-debtburden-for-canadians-2021.pdf • Primer on Inflation: https://www.bankofcanada.ca/2020/08/understanding-inflation/ In-Class Group Work: Budget Simulation Trade Policy November 17 Readings: • Eric Miller, “Remaking NAFTA” CGAI (2017) Case Study Beating Acid Rain: International Policy Collaboration November 22 Readings: • Mulroney, “Acid Rain” Public Leadership in Times of Crisis November 24 November 29 Readings: • Arjen Boin, Sanneke Kuipers, and Werner Overdijk, “Leadership in Times of Crisis: A Framework for Assessment,” International Review of Public Administration 2013 18 (1): 79-91. In-Class Group Work: Emergency Management Tabletop Exercise This study source was downloaded by 100000795913113 from CourseHero.com on 09-08-2023 10:14:43 GMT -05:00 https://www.coursehero.com/file/142148943/PGOV-SYLLABUSpdf/ 6 Case Study The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster December 1 Readings: • Yoichi Funabashi and Kay Kitazawa, “Fukushima in Review: A Complex Disaster, A Disastrous Response,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 68 (2) (2012): 9-21. December 6 Exam Review This schedule represents an estimation of when we will cover subjects. Certain topics may require more or less time to cover depending on circumstances and there is no guarantee that this timetable will be kept perfectly. In Addition Get to know St FX’s policies on plagiarism. The library has a helpful online resource: http://sites.stfx.ca/library/plagiarism. It is your responsibility to avoid plagiarism, and my responsibility to help you navigate the rules. If you have questions, please ask! Better safe than sorry. Please feel free to talk with us about your questions or concerns about equity in our classroom or in the STFX community in general. If we cannot answer your questions or help you address your concerns, we encourage you to talk to the Chair/Coordinator of the Department/Program or the Human Rights and Equity Advisor. Please feel free to contact the Human Rights and Equity Advisor Megan Fogarty if you have questions or concerns about equity in the classroom or in the StFX Community in general. Megan can be contacted by email at mfogarty@stfx.ca or by telephone at 902-867-5306. Grades & Late Penalties Grades will be posted on Moodle as soon as they are available. Late papers will be penalized five percent (5%) per day will be deducted for assignments handed in late that are not accompanied by a medical note. In practice, this means that if an assignment is due on Tuesday and you hand it in on Thursday, your grade will be reduced by 10%. All assignments must be submitted electronically through Moodle. Drop Dates Students may drop a course, online in Banner, on or before November 3, 2021. This study source was downloaded by 100000795913113 from CourseHero.com on 09-08-2023 10:14:43 GMT -05:00 https://www.coursehero.com/file/142148943/PGOV-SYLLABUSpdf/ Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) 7
