City University of Hong Kong. Information on a Course

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1 City University of Hong Kong Information on a Course offered by Department of Public Policy with effect from Semester A 2013/ 2014 Part I Course Title: Course Code: Course Duration: Policy Models and Processes POL3202 One semester No. of Credit Units: 3 Level: Medium of Instruction: Prerequisites: (Course Code and Title) Precursors: (Course Code and Title) B3 English Nil None Equivalent Courses: (Course Code and Title) SA/POL 3241 Approaches in Policy Making and Analysis; SA3202 Policy Models and Processes Exclusive Courses: (Course Code and Title) None Part II 1. Course Aims: The course aims to examine the operation of the political system by exploring the purpose and activities of government. With a policy-oriented focus, it discovers the relationship and dynamics between the state and society. The following factors of policy making will be critically analysed and reflected: the nature of society, the role and capacities of the state, the behaviour of political actors, as well as the nature of national and global political systems. And also, how these factors affect and shape the processes and policies of a polity (including the dynamics of

2 problem identification and agenda setting). A multi-disciplinary approach will be used to re-examine the interactions between the state and political actors and government polices. 2. Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs) Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to: No. CILOs Weighting (if applicable) 1. Distinguish and re-examine the contemporary trends, theories, models and debates in policy studies 2 Integrate and apply various threads of theoretical knowledge to real life situations and Hong Kong cases 3 Critically evaluate public policies with contrasting theories 4 Detect and interpret the formation of public policy 5 Analytically Discuss the details of Hong Kong major policy issues 3. Teaching and learning Activities (TLAs) (Indicative of likely activities and tasks designed to facilitate students achievement of the CILOs. Final details will be provided to students in their first week of attendance in this course) CILO No. TLAs Hours/week (if applicable) Lecture: to deliver knowledge on policy making models and processes, as well as the details of major policy issues in Hong Kong CILO 2, 3, 4, 5, Presentation: apply theories to analyze specific policy issues in Hong Kong CILO 3, 4, 5, Moderation: comment on the presentation and discuss the subject matter from alternative perspectives Tutorial discussion: to exchange views on the explanation of policy formation Online activity: delivery of course materials, personal consultation on critical issues and discussion on the subject matters Term paper: Integrate and apply theories to analyze and discuss the policy making of specific public policy in Hong Kong 4. Assessment Tasks/Activities (Indicative of likely activities and tasks designed to assess how well the students achieve the CILOs. Final details will be provided to students in their first week of attendance in this course) Students are required to pass BOTH the coursework assessment AND the examination before they can be awarded an overall passing grade of the course. CILOs Type of assessment tasks/activities Weighting (if applicable) Remarks Examination 50% To assess student s knowledge on the subject matters and application of the theories to analyze policy issues in Hong Kong Term paper 25% To test student s ability to analyze the policy issues with contrasting theories

3 CILO 2, 3, 4, 5, Presentation 15% To evaluate student s ability to integrate and apply various theories to discuss the policy making of specific policy issue in Hong Kong Moderation and participation 10% To examine student s capacity to apply knowledge to discuss policy issues at real life situations 5. Grading of Student Achievement: Refer to Grading of Courses in the Academic Regulations. Letter Grade A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D F Grading criteria in relation to CILOs Demonstrating comprehensive, in-depth and critical understanding of collating relevant materials independently and systematically to tackle the presentation topic; critically apply the policy-making theories and models in the selected policy case study, highly effective in conducting class discussion and defending the group s position after presentation, demonstrate excellent preparation in the moderation, fully integrate the comments and new ideas in the term (individual or group) paper with clear evidence of superior critical analysis and synthesis, and outstanding and proactive participation in the class discussion. Demonstrating good to very good understanding of collating relevant materials independently and systematically to tackle the presentation topic; apply the policy-making theories and models in local case(s), effective in conducting class discussion and defending the group s position after presentation, demonstrate good preparation in the moderation, integrate the comments and new ideas in the term (individual or group) paper with clear evidence of superior critical analysis and synthesis, and active participation in the class discussion. Demonstrating basic but not advanced understanding of collating relevant materials independently and systematically to tackle the presentation topic; apply limited policy-making theories and models in local case(s), ineffective in conducting class discussion and defending the group s position after presentation, partially demonstrate good preparation in the moderation, integrate few comments and new ideas in the term (individual or group) paper with few evidence of superior critical analysis and synthesis, and average participation in the class discussion. Partial but very inadequate understanding of collating relevant materials independently and systematically to tackle the presentation topic; apply very few policy-making theories and models in local case(s), hardly conducting class discussion and defending the group s position after presentation, demonstrate poor preparation in the moderation, integrate very few comments and new ideas in the term (individual or group) paper with clear evidence of superior critical analysis and synthesis, and passive participation in the class discussion. Failure to demonstrate understanding of collating relevant materials independently and systematically to tackle the presentation topic; apply no policy-making theories and models in local case(s), cannot conducting class discussion and defending the group s position after presentation, demonstrate no preparation in the moderation, integrate no comments and new ideas in the term (individual or group) paper with clear evidence of superior critical analysis and synthesis, and no participation in the class discussion.

4 Part III Keyword Syllabus: The meaning of policy. The nature and types of public policy. Policy cycle. Policy change and variations. Policy instruments and capacities of the state. Strong and weak states. Ideas and agenda-setting. Policy determinants. Policy window. Agenda-setting processes. Non-decisions. Decision-making models: rational-comprehensive model, Simon's bounded rationality, Lindblom s Incrementalism. Incremental analysis and incremental politics. Mixed-scanning & garbage-can models. Elitist, pluralist, corporatist, Marxist and state-centred models. Policy Formulation. Policy actors. Policy subsystems. Networks and policy communities. Socio-economic and institutional approaches. Rational choice theory. A synthesis and an evolutionary approach to policy analysis. Case studies: e.g. education, housing, health, and other contemporary policy issues. Recommended Reading: Howlett, Michael and Ramesh, M, (2003), Studying Public Policy, 2 nd edition, Ontario: Oxford University Press. Hill, Michael, (2005), The Public Policy Process, 4 th edition, Essex: Pearson Education. Schwarzmantel, John, (1994), The State in Contemporary Society: an introduction. London: Prentice Hall / Harvester Wheatsheaf. Dunleavy, P. and O Leary, B. (1987), Theories of the State: The Politics of Liberal Democracy. London: Macmillan Education. Hill, Michael ed. (2003), The Policy Process: A Reader, London: Harvester Wheatsheaf. Dye, Thomas, (2002), Understanding Public Policy, NJ: Prentice Hall. Burns, John, (2003), The Policy Process in the HKSAR, in Nakamura, A, ed, Comparative Studies of Public Administration VIII, Eropa Local Government, Tokyo, pp Sabatier, Paul, ed (1999), Theories of the Policy Process, Westview Press, Colorado, Ch. 2 Beegheley, Leonard, (1999), Angles of Vision: How to Understand Social Problem, Ch. 1 and 8 Blumer, Herbert, (1971), Social Problems as Collective Definition and Collective Behavior, Social Problems, Vol. 18, Winter, p Kingdon, John, (1995), Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies, 2 nd edition, Longman, NY, Ch. 5 Hilgartner, Stephen and Bosk, Charles, (1988), The Rise and Fall of Social Problems: A Public Arenas Model, American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 94, No. 1, pp.53-78

5 Entman, Robert, (1993), Framing: Toward Clarification of a Fractured Paradigm, Journal of Communication, Vol. 43, No. 4, pp Hui, Glenn, (2005), Non-Reform in the Hong Kong Healthcare System: An Analysis of the Agenda-Setting Process, (2005), Public Administration and Policy, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp Korn, David, et al, (2003), Framing Public Policy Towards a Public Health Paradigm for Gambling, Journal of Gambling, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp Wicks, Robert, (2001), Understanding Audiences: Learning to Use the Media Constructively, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, Ch. 5 Cohen, Michael et al, (1972), A Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice, Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp.1-25 Ho, Polly, (2002), Agenda-Setting for the Regulation of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong, Asian Journal of Public Administration, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp Kingdon, John, (1995), Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies, 2 nd edition, Longman, NY, Ch. 9 Moya, Sara, (1998), Growth Management in Maricopa County, : An Application of Kingdon s Agenda Setting Model, The Social Science Journal, Vol. 35, No. 4, pp Gilbert, N. (2005) Protection to Activation, in P. Saunders (ed.) Welfare to Work in Practice: Social Security and Participation in Economic and Social Life, Aldershot: Ashgate, pp Online Resources: Hong Kong SAR Government Hong Kong Legislative Council