Fall 2024 Public Affairs U6130 section 003

Politics of Policymaking: Issues in Comp

Politics of Policymaking:

Call Number 17573
Day & Time
Location
M 2:10pm-4:00pm
403 International Affairs Building
Day & Time
Location
M 6:10pm-8:00pm
405A International Affairs Building
Points 4
Grading Mode Standard
Approvals Required None
Instructor Tamar Mitts
Type LECTURE
Method of Instruction In-Person
Course Description

Open to First-Year MPA Only. Policymaking—the process by which political actors make decisions on a range of issues—is strongly influenced by context. The political environment in which policymakers interact plays a central role in shaping agendas, strategies, and choices. To be successful, policy professionals must be able to navigate a complicated set of political institutions that can constrain the menu of policy options, engage with multiple actors and stakeholders, and become familiar with dynamically changing technological and media environments. This course will give students important foundational knowledge on the way in which political contexts shape policymaking around the world.

The course has four parts. The first will focus on the policy process. We will learn what factors commonly influence policymakers’ decisions and discuss how solutions to policy problems can be evaluated in a policy analysis framework. The second part will focus on democracy and democratic erosion. We will learn about the rise and decline of democratic institutions and discuss factors that have shown to weaken democratic processes around the globe, including corruption, identity politics and polarization, and mis/disinformation.

In the third part of the course, we will delve into politics in the era of artificial intelligence. We will learn how AI tools such as large language models are shaping policy around the world, and discuss their potential impact on the information environment in a range of political domains. The final part of the course will focus on contentious politics. We will learn about recent debates on the politics of immigration, as well as protests and activism around the world, and discuss their influence on policymakers’ decision making.

In addition to the material covered in the lectures, students will also attend a weekly recitation section. Recitation sections will help students gain a deeper understanding of concepts and topics discussed in the lectures that will be important for success in the final exam.

Web Site Vergil
Department International and Public Affairs
Enrollment 6 students (16 max) as of 4:06PM Saturday, November 2, 2024
Subject Public Affairs
Number U6130
Section 003
Division School of International and Public Affairs
Open To SIPA
Note Open to First-year MPA Students Only
Section key 20243PUAF6130U003