Syllabus
Course OutlineTopic 1 Introductory lecture in J3019 on October (presentation of the content and conditions the course, division of texts)Workshop 1 Ideational foundations of the policy process research, political parties, and the welfare stateTopic 2 Policy process research (Weible)Topic 3 Developmental theory (Katz & Mair)Topic 4 Party politics and the welfare state (Häusermann, Picot, & Geering)Topic 5 Concept of the welfare state (Marshall)Seminar exercise: Designing policy process research on political parties and the welfare stateWorkshop 2 Political parties as collective actors in the policy processTopic 6 Does politics matter? (Castles & McKinlay)Topic 7 Parties and agenda setting (Green-Pedersen)Topic 8 Political entrepreneurs (Herweg, Huss & Zohlnhöfer)Seminar exercise: Political parties as collective actorsWorkshop 3 Political parties as organisations (arenas) in the policy processTopic 9 Dominant party goals (Harmel & Janda)Topic 10 Crisis imperative (Kuipers)Topic 11 Political parties as arenas (Schumacher)Topic 12 Closing lecture (final discussion)Seminar exercise: Political parties as arenasPartial programme changes reserved.Vstupní požadavkyThis course is open to all MA and advanced BA students who are interested in issues of the welfare state, political parties, and the policy process. In case of demand excess the preference is given to the ISS students due to limited capacity.
Annotation
The course is designed to deepen understanding of the policy process with emphasis on the role of political parties and the context of the welfare state. Political parties are considered as crucial elements in policy-making related to the welfare state.
They could be viewed as collective actors in party systems as well as organisations or arenas where different welfare options and strategies are negotiated. The course is based on the reading and critical analysis of essential contributions to this field of study and students are encouraged to link theoretical findings to contemporary practice of the welfare state policy-making in their countries.