Public policies are governmental activities to address societal problems. The process of problem solving, however, is situated in a political setting shaped by divergent interests, structural changes and inherent uncertainty about the future. How public policies are designed and implemented is therefore shaped by the interaction of a variety of actors pursuing their specific interests which in term are shaped by the institutional and economic context. There is ample evidence in the policy literature that there is no “one size fits all” toolbox but rather different pathways and policy tools that can work towards the same goals.
This course for Master and PhD students introduces analytical perspectives to systematically discuss the process of policy making under these conditions using a highly influential body of theory in the comparative political economy field on “Varieties of Capitalism”, “Welfare Capitalism” and “Growth models”. A particular emphasis is put on the challenge of institutional change for policy-maker, exemplified by the example of welfare state and climate change. We will discuss in detail the role of interest groups and why institutional change is likely to be politically costly for policy-makers. We also discuss strategies actors have to overcome the status-quo bias of existing institutions.
The course is organized around four themed blocks, to be discussed bi-weekly:
I The theoretical foundation: The classics of comparative policy analysis
II Policymaking in context and changing conditions
III Reforms: Actors, challenges and strategies
IV Outcomes
It is a comparative course and as such compares political phenomena across countries and over time. The focus is generally on advanced industrial democracies, e.g., democracies in North America and Western Europe, but students are welcome to apply the material to developing countries.„
Syllabus: https://box.hu-berlin.de/d/8592ae477e29450983db/
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