SOC605 Sociology of Public Policy

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2015
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Michal Vašečka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Ladislav Rabušic, CSc.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Supplier department: Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 17:00–18:30 Aula
Prerequisites
Course SOC 605 „Sociology of public policy“ has been prepared for students of MA level of Sociology studies at the Faculty of Social Studies of the Masaryk University. Students can obtain as many as 12 credits.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Sociology of Public Policy deals with terms connected to processes of creation of public policy and analysis current trends of theories and models both in the Czech republic and worldwide. Course offers understanding of how to evaluate policies ex-ante, ongoing, and ex post. Course informs students about projects logic applicable to EU projects. In the sphere of ex-ante analysis of public policies course offers students chances to analyse selected aspects of public policy analysis.
Syllabus
  • 1st Seminar: Introduction into Public Policy Analysis
  • 2nd Seminar: Creation of policy as a soluition of a problem
  • 3rd Seminar: Reasons for creation of Public Policy
  • 4th Seminar: Transparency and Corruption in Public Policy korupcia vo verejnej politike
  • 5th Seminar: Goals of Public Policy tools
  • 6th Seminar: Analysis of Public Policy in the Process of Creation of Public Policy
  • 7th Seminar: Analysis of a Problem
  • 8th Seminar: Analysis of solutions and recommendations
  • 9th Seminar: Context of public policy - stakeholders and communication of analysis
  • 10th Seminar: Introduction into Project Management
  • 11th Seminar: Evaluation, criteria, and indicators; methods and tools
Literature
  • Stone D., (1997). Policy Paradox. The Art of Political Decision Making, W.W.Norton and Comp. New York, London. Chapter – Equity.
  • Edelman, Murrey (1988). Constructing the Political Spectacle. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
  • Veselý Arnošt – Nekola, Martin (eds.) (2007). Analýza a tvorba veřejných politik: přístupy, metody a praxe. Praha: Slon.
  • Staroňová, Katarína (2009). Hodnotenie vplyvov: Regulatory Impact assessment v teórii a praxi Slovenska a Európskej Únie. Bratislava: ÚVP.
  • Bardach, Eugene (2000). A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis. Berkeley, CA: University Academic Press.
  • Howlett, M. & M. Ramesh (1995). Chapter 5: Agenda Setting – Policy Determinants a Policy Windows.
  • Patton, M.Q. (2008). Utilisation Focused Evaluation, 3rd ed. Sage Publications.
  • Sabatier, P. (1999). Theories of the Policy Process. Part 2. – „Alternative Views of the Role of Rationality in the Policy Process.
  • Vašečka, Michal, 2007: Sociologické aspekty korupcie. Bratislava, Transparency International Slovakia.
  • Cartier-Bresson, J. 1997. „Corruption Networks, Transaction security and Illegal Social Exchange“. In: Political Corruption. Oxford, Malden: Blackwell Publishers: 47– 60.
  • Weimer, D. and A. R. Vining (1999). Policy Analysis: Concepts and Practice. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
  • Morse, Kristin – Struyk, Raymond (2006). Policy Analysis for Effective Development. Lynne Rienner Publishers.
  • Hatry, H. – Blair, L. – Fisk, D. (1987). Program Analysis for State and Local Governments. Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute.
  • Pal, Leslie (2001). Beyond Policy Analysis: Public Issues Management in Turbulent Times. 2nd Ed. Ontario: Nelson Thomson Learning. Chapter I – Policy Analysis: Concepts and Practice.
  • Morra-Imas, L., Rist C. R. (2008). The Road to Results: Designing and Conducting Effective Development Evaluations. Washington, D.C.: World Bank Publications.
Teaching methods
Course is 1 semester long and it is organized in the form of a lecture (45 minutes) and following seminar (45 minutes), 2 hours every week. Students have most of texts available in the IS system, mostly texts published in the Czech republic are available in libraries and bookstores.
Assessment methods
Pre-conditions for completing a course:
1. Systematic work;
2. Public Policy presentation;
3. Submitting of a final essay;

4. Oral exam.

Evaluation system:
Each student can obtain 50 points maximum, in case of reaching less than 25 points student fails. Particular activities of students will be evaluated as follows:
24 % - Public policy presentation /max. 12 points/
52 % - Essay /max. 26 points/

24 % - Oral exam /max. 12 points/ Evaluation is based upon these principles:
50 - 45 points A
44 - 40 points B
39 - 35 points C
34 - 30 points D
29 - 25 points E
24 - 0 points F
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2016.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2015, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2015/SOC605