The Policy Process in Local Government

Transcription

1 The University of Western Ontario Diploma in Public Administration Program Political Science 4902 The Policy Process in Local Government Instructor: Martin Horak Fall 2013 tel: (519) ext Purpose: This course introduces students to selected aspects of the academic literature on the making of public policy. Students will learn how to apply theories and concepts from the public policy literature to Canadian local governments. Using case studies, students will examine the main factors that cause different kinds of local public policy outcomes in different circumstances. Schedule: Classes will take place from 9:00am to 12:00 noon and from 1:00 4:00pm on the following dates in the specified rooms at the Region of Durham Corporate Headquarters Building, 605 Rossland Road East, Whitby, Ontario: September 20 - Room 3C (3rd Floor) September 27 Room 3C (3 rd Floor) October 18 - Room 1A (Main Level) November 8 - Room 3C (3rd Floor) December 6 - Room 3C (3rd Floor) Format: The course will consist of a combination of lectures, class discussions, group exercises and student presentations. Readings: There is no set textbook for this course, and you are not required to purchase any readings. All readings will be posted (either as scanned documents or as internet links) on the course website (OWL-Sakai). Assigned reading must be completed before the class for which it is scheduled.

2 Evaluation: Participation 25% of course grade Participation will be assessed based on contributions to class discussion and group exercises. Research Project Your main assignment for this course will be to design and complete your own research project on some aspect of policy-making in the local/urban arena. This project has three components: a. Research Proposal 15% of course grade You will develop a 3-4 page proposal outlining your intended research project, including a research question, brief background, intended research methods, and sources. Detailed guidelines for the proposal will be posted on the course OWL site in late September. The Research Proposal is due by to the instructor on October 25. b. Research Presentation 15% of course grade You will prepare a brief (10 minutes plus time for questions) presentation on your research project and results for the final class (December 6). Detailed requirements will be discussed in class on November 8. c. Research Paper 45% of course grade You will write a page research paper on your chosen topic. Detailed guidelines will be posted on the course OWL website in late September, and will also be discussed in class. The paper is due in class on December 6. Note on late penalties: Research proposals and papers handed in late are subject to a penalty of 2% per day off of the assignment mark.

3 Course Schedule and Required Readings NOTE: Readings are best read in the order listed below. September 20, morning session Introduction: Public Policy and Canadian Municipalities Fowler, Edmund P. and David Siegel Introduction: Urban Public Policy at the Turn of the Century. In Edmund P. Fowler and David Siegel, eds. Urban Policy Issues: Canadian Perspectives (2 nd ed.). Don Mills, Oxford University Press: pp Tindal, Richard and Susan Nobes Tindal Excerpts from Chapter 11, Municipal Policy Making. In Local Government in Canada (7 th ed.). Toronto: Nelson Education: pp September 20, afternoon session Elements of Public Policy: Problem Definition, Goals, and Policy Instruments Pal, Leslie A Excerpts from Chapter 3, Problem Definition in Policy Analysis. In Beyond Policy Analysis: Public Issue Management in Turbulent Times (5 th ed.). Toronto: Nelson Education: pp Pralle, Sarah The Mouse That Roared : Agenda Setting in Canadian Pesticides Politics. Policy Studies Journal 34: pp Pal, Leslie A Figure 4.1. In Beyond Policy Analysis: Public Issue Management in Turbulent Times (5 th ed.). Toronto: Nelson Education: p September 27, morning session Actors in the Local Policy System: Politicians, Administrators, and the Public Tindal, Richard and Susan Nobes Tindal Excerpts from Chapter 10, The Municipality and the Public. In Local Government in Canada (7 th ed.). Toronto: Nelson Education: pp Svara, James The Shifting Boundary Between Elected Officials and City Managers in Large Council-Manager Cities. Public Administration Review 59(1), pp

4 September 27, afternoon session From Issue Definition to Decision: The Dynamics of Local Agenda-Setting Goetz, Edward G. and Mara S. Sidney Local Policy Subsystems and Issue Definition: An Analysis of Community Development Policy Change. Urban Affairs Review 32, pp Henstra, Daniel Explaining Local Policy Choices: A Multiple Streams Analysis. Canadian Public Administration 53(2), pp October 18, morning session Mayors, Leaders and Governing Coalitions Sancton, Andrew Chapter 11, Mayors and Local Political Leadership, in Canadian Local Government: An Urban Perspective. Don Mills: Oxford University Press, pp Urbaniak, Tom Chapter 11, Leadership Lessons, in Her Worship: Hazel McCallion and the Development of Mississauga. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, pp October 18, morning session Policy Focus: Explaining Urban Growth and Development Policies Leo, Christopher and Kathryn Anderson Being Realistic About Urban Growth. Journal of Urban Affairs 28(1), pp Polese, Mario Urban Development Legends. City Journal 21(4), n.p. November 8, morning session Multilevel Policy-Making Horak, Martin Conclusion: Understanding Multilevel Governance in Canada s Cities. In Martin Horak and Robert Young, eds., Sites of Governance: Multilevel Policy-Making in Canada s Cities. Montreal: McGill-Queens Press, pp Leo, Christopher Multilevel Governance without Municipal Government: Minimalist Government in Winnipeg. In Martin Horak and Robert Young, eds., Sites of Governance: Multilevel Policy-Making in Canada s Cities. Montreal: McGill-Queens Press, pp

5 November 8, afternoon session Emerging Local Policy Challenges: Selected Cases Eidelman, Gabriel Managing Urban Sprawl in Ontario: Good Policy or Good Politics? Politics & Policy 38(6), pp Mendes, Wendy Implementing Social and Environmental Policies in Cities: The Case of Food Policy in Vancouver, Canada. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 32, pp Horak, Martin and Marilyn Dantico. Forthcoming. The limits of local redistribution: Neighborhood regeneration initiatives in Toronto and Phoenix. Forthcoming in International Journal of Canadian Studies. December 6, morning and afternoon Student Presentations on Research Papers Order of presentations TBD by topic.