Dr Lloyd Gruber

Dr Alexandra Cirone

This course is compulsory on the Double Master of Public Administration (LSE-Columbia), Double Master of Public Administration (LSE-University of Toronto), MPA in Data Science for Public Policy and Master of Public Administration. This course is available on the MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Hertie), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and NUS) and MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Tokyo). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

This course has a limited number of places after students for whom it is compulsory have been accommodated (it is controlled access). Priority is given to students from the School of Public Policy, students from other programmes will be considered if places remain.

This course develops tools to help students understand, negotiate, and (where possible) improve the political context of policymaking.  Harnessing the power of modern political science, the course examines a wide range of political phenomena, everything from voting behaviour and political mobilisation in democratic elections to authoritarian politics, ethnic conflict, decentralised governance, and the politics of climate change. The course combines a review of the main empirical regularities in each of these areas with an introduction to key theoretical arguments about the political institutions ‘in play’ and how they shape strategic behaviour.  The course also surveys a selection of current policy challenges and considers how our new theoretical and empirical tools can help students analyse and address them.

This course is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars totalling a minimum of 60 hours across Autumn Term and Winter Term. 

Every student will deliver one practice presentation during Autumn Term.

• W.R.Clark, M. Golder and S.N.Golder (2018), Principles of Comparative Politics, 3rd 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 provided at the beginning of the course

Exam (60%, duration: 3 hours, reading time: 15 minutes) in the spring exam period.
Essay (20%) in the AT.
Presentation (20%) in the WT.