Dr Paolo Belardinelli

This course is available on the MSc in International Migration and Public Policy, MSc in International Migration and Public Policy (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Public Administration and Government (LSE and Peking University) and MSc in Public Policy and Administration. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

This course is capped at 3 groups.

Many masters graduates in public policy and administration go on to work in organizations that produce or consume policy advice. With this in mind, this course will look at how policy advice is produced and used. It has three objectives: to introduce students to a range of theoretical and empirical scholarship on the issues involved in producing and using policy advice; to develop practical policy analysis and communication skills required of policy advisors; and to expose students to practitioners who produce and use policy advice. Students will develop their policy analysis and communication skills by critically analysing the theoretical scholarship on policy advice, the science-policy link, and research impact. Moreover, we will apply this analysis to real-world cases during the seminars, in group presentations and exercises, and in the formative and assessed coursework.

This course is delivered through a combination of seminars and lectures totalling a minimum of 25 hours across Lent Term. This year, some or all of this teaching will be delivered through a combination of online and on-campus lectures and seminars. This course includes a reading week in Week 6 of Lent Term.

One formative essay (2,000 words), one group presentation, and a mock examination.

Bardach, Eugene (2009) A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis, Third Edition. Washington, DC: CQ Press.

Stone, D.A., (2002). Policy paradox: The art of political decision making, New York: Norton.

Scott, C. and Baehler, K. (2010) Adding Value to Policy Analysis and Advice, Sydney: University of New South Wales Press

Weimer, David L. and Vining, Aidan R. (2005) Policy Analysis: Concepts and Practice, Fourth Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Online assessment (50%, duration: 7 days) in the ST.
Project (50%, 2500 words).

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.