PP401      Half Unit
Political Science for Public Policy

This information is for the 2023/24 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Joachim Wehner

Availability

This course is compulsory on the Master of Public Policy. This course is not available as an outside option.

Course content

The course will introduce students to how to understand the political context of policymaking, using the latest theoretical and empirical knowledge in modern political science.  The course will cover, among other things, political behaviour (such as voting behaviour, elections and lobbying), political institutions (such as electoral systems, parliamentary and presidential government, and central banks) and political outcomes (such as economic policies and public services).  The course will combine a review of the main empirical regularities across time and across country in each of these areas, with an introduction to key theoretical arguments about how actors interact and how institutions shape strategic behaviour, and an introduction to the latest empirical (and causal) estimation techniques for testing theoretical propositions.

Teaching

This course is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars totalling a minimum of 35 hours across Autumn Term. 

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to produce one formative assignment in the AT.

Indicative reading

W. R. Clark, M. Golder, & S. N. Golder (2018). Principles of Comparative Politics. Third Edition. CQ Press.

E. Bueno de Mesquita (2016), Political Economy for Public Policy, Princeton University Press.

These books provide excellent starting points and can be used as references for many topics. A full reading list will be distributed at the beginning of the course.

Assessment

Presentation (30%) in the AT.
Take-home assessment (70%) in the WT.

Student performance results

(2019/20 - 2021/22 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 10.2
Merit 72.7
Pass 15.9
Fail 1.1

Key facts

Department: School of Public Policy

Total students 2022/23: 88

Average class size 2022/23: 15

Controlled access 2022/23: Yes

Lecture capture used 2022/23: Yes (MT)

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

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

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills