Political Environment of Policymaking

This course is designed for future leaders and top-level advisors within both governmental and non-governmental (i.e. private for-profit and non-profit) organizations. The goal is to introduce the participants to the basic concepts, skills, and tools of “positive political theory” in policymaking. A significant portion of the class material will be devoted to abstract theoretical foundations of strategic political interaction, which will prove instrumental in understanding and predicting patterns of political behavior and outcomes. Although there will be a sizable amount of literature you will be asked to rummage through, our approach will not be entirely interpretive. In fact, a significant amount of class time will be allocated to the practical application of knowledge gathered from readings and discussions. Although the reading materials will focus primarily on national policymaking in the United States, we will from time to time refer to other sub-national levels (i.e. states and municipal) and countries.