Course outline – ADM 312

“Public Policy: Public Praxis or the State at Work”

(2007 Winter Semester)

Mustafa Kemal Bayırbağ

Room Number: A-318

Telephone: 2103018

e-mail: bayirbag@metu.edu.tr

Schedule:

Office hours: By appointment

I - Course Objective

The aim of this course is to introduce you to the literature on Public Policy and to help you to develop a refined approach to the working of the government. In other words, we are interested in the state at work. The course, first, justifies the need to study public policy and gives a broader overview of what the terms ‘policy process’ and ‘policy analysis’ stand for. In doing so, it also concentrates on existing theories of the policy process. Next, we will have a closer look at the policy-making and formation process. In particular, we will examine the question of who makes public policy, the patterns of participation to policy-making, as well as the role played by institutions in this process, as facilitators or obstacles. Finally, we will discuss the instruments of public policy adopted by the government during the policy process. Especially, ‘regulation’ and the ‘fiscal instruments’ of public policy will constitute the centre of our concern. You are expected to prepare three (very) short reflection papers and an end-of-the-term project that will investigate a concrete policy problem in Turkey.

II - Teaching Policy

A friendly and positive teaching environment is preferred. I would like to promote an atmosphere of mutual trust and vivid intellectual engagement. Cheating is not welcome and in no way accepted. Please try your best to add to the class with your own intellectual capacity. If you need any extra equipment or measure that will facilitate and ease your learning process, please let me know in advance. If you have health problems that will not let you attend the class or any exam, please contact me as soon as possible. Please also note that I personally donot sympathise with giving extensions or make-ups unless there is a very good excuse.

III- Student Responsibilities and the Marking Scheme

The course will help you operationalise the above mentioned insights by asking you to write three short mid-term reflection papers that will review the literature, and to prepare a final report on a topic related to the Turkish case that you will choose upon consulting with the instructor. Your active contribution to the classroom discussions, and thus attendance, is crucial! Students are expected to come to the class prepared, meaning that you will have read the assigned materials to be able to follow the lectures and discussions. You are encouraged to participate in the class discussions.

And, here are the assignment details:

a) Participation - % 25

Attendance, preparedness to the classroom discussions, the quality of your engagement

b) Reflection Papers - % 30

- You will write three short papers (10% each)

- 2 pages (max. 3), double-spaced

- Will concentrate on course readings. Questions will be given by the instructor

- Submitted during Week 5 (covers 1-4), Week 9 (covers 5-8), and Week 13 (covers 9-12)

c) Final Paper - % 45

- Details to be explained in the classroom

- Focuses on the Turkish case

- Submitted in the final date as announced by the president’s office

IV - Examination and Presentation Evaluation Policy:

(the average of three evaluation criteria)

a) Knowledge of the Literature : Breadth and Scope of your discussion. Allusion to reading materials, proper citations from the authors.

b) Insight or In Depth Analysis : Awareness of main issues, tensions, concepts, and efficiency in their operationalisation.

c) Engagement : Well researched / presented, good examples, innovative thinking and original contributions.

Note: METU marking scale will be used as the term grades are calculated (no curve method).

V - Topics and Readings

WEEK 1: Introduction

Introduction:

Main problematic and the concepts introduced. Course outline to be discussed. Readings for the following week to be specified. Presentation/paper topics!

WEEK 2: What is public policy? Why do we study public policy?

- Dye, Thomas R. (1984) Understanding Public Policy: 1-17.

- Pal, Leslie (1989) Public Policy Analysis: 2-18.

- Ham, Christopher and Michael Hill (1984) The Policy Process in the Modern Capitalist State: 1-21.

- Hogwood, Brian M. and Lewis A. Gunn (1984) Policy Analysis for the Real World: 12-31.

WEEK 3: What is public policy analysis? Intellectual roots and models; Who is a policy analyst?

- Jenkins, Bill (1993) “Policy Analysis: Models and Approaches”,in Michael Hill (ed) The Policy Process: A Reader: 34-44.

- Pal, Leslie (1989) Public Policy Analysis: 19-42.

- Friedmann, John (1987) Planning in the Public Domain: from knowledge to action: 137-179.

WEEK 4: Theories of the Policy Process; the state, society and public policy;

- Sabatier, Paul (1999) Theories of the Policy Process, Westwiew Press.

- Ham, Christopher and Michael Hill (1984) The Policy Process in the Modern Capitalist State: 22-44.

- Dye, Thomas R. (1984) Understanding Public Policy: 19-43.

- Hofferbert, Richard I. (1974) The Study of Public Policy: 258-269.

REFLECTION PAPER - 1 is DUE

WEEK 5: Are we inside or outside the blackbox? Agenda formation, politics and decision-making, policy/epistemic communities

- Dye, Thomas R. (1984) Understanding Public Policy: 317-341.

- Zito, Anthony R. (2001) “Epistemic communities, collective entrepreneurship and European integration” Journal of European Public Policy 8(4): 585-603.

- Adler, Emanuel and Peter M. Haas (1992) “Conclusion: epistemic communities, world order, and the creation of a reflective research program” International Organization 46(1): 367-390.

WEEK 6: Are we inside or outside the blackbox? Continued ...

- Thatcher, Mark (1998) “The Development of Policy Network Analyses” Journal of Theoretical Politics 10(4): 389-416.

- Pross, A. P. (1986) Group Politics and Public Policy: 108-175.

WEEK 7: The question of institutions and public policy

- Weaver, R. Kent and Bert A. Rockman (1993) “Assessing the Effects of Institutions” in R. Kent Weaver and Bert A. Rockman (eds) Do Institutions Matter? Government Capabilities in the United States and Abroad, Washington: Brookings Inst.: 1-41.

- Weiss, Linda (1998) The Myth of the Powerless State: 1-40.

- Elinor Ostrom (1999) “Institutional Rational Choice: An Assessment of the Institutional Analysis and Development Framework” in Paul Sabatier (ed) Theories of the Policy Process, Boulder Co.: Westwiew Press: 35-72.

WEEK 8: The question of institutions and public policy. Continued ...

- Rhodes, R.A.W. (2000) “The Governance Narrative: Key Findings and Lessons from the ESRC’s Whitehall Programme” Public Administration 78(2): 345-363

- Ham, Christopher and Michael Hill (1984) The Policy Process in the Modern Capitalist State: 45-60.

- Aucoin, Peter (1993) “Politicians, Public Servants, and Public Management: Getting Government Right” in B.G. Peters and D.J. Savoie (eds) Governance in a Changing Environment: 113-137.

WEEK 9: Introduction to policy instruments: the selection process

- Linder, Stephen H. and B. Guy Peters (1989) “Instruments of Government: perceptions and Contexts” Journal of Public Policy 9(1): 35-58.

- Howlett, Michael and M. Ramesh (1993) “Patterns of Policy Instrument Choice: Policy Styles, Policy Learning and the Privatization Experience” Policy Studies Review 12(1/2): 3-24

- Trebilcock, Michael, R. Prichard et al (1982) The Choice of Governing Instruments, Ottawa: 1-22.

REFLECTION PAPER - 2 is DUE

WEEK 10: Changing policy context and policy instruments

- Bressers, Hans TH. A. And Laurence J. O’Toole, Jr. (1998) “The selection of Policy Instruments: a Network-based Perspective” Journal of Public Policy 18(3): 213-239.

- Howlett, Michael (2000) “Managing the ‘Hollow State’: Procedural Policy Instruments and Modern Governance” Canadian Public Administration

- Bennett, Colin J. (1997) “Understanding Ripple Effects: The Cross-National Adoption of Policy Instruments for Bureaucratic Accountability” Governance 10(3): 213-233.

WEEK 11: Instruments of public policy: regulation

- Doern, G. Bruce (1979) “Regulatory Processes and Regulatory Agencies” in G. Bruce Doern and Peter Aucoin (eds) Public Policy in Canada: 158-189.

- Schultz, Richard and Alan Alexandrov (1985) Economic Regulation and Federal System: 1-35.

- Schultz, Richard and Bruce Doern (1998) “Canadian Sectoral Regulatory Institutions: No Longer ‘Governments in Miniature’” in Bruce Doern and Stephen Wilks (eds) Regulatory Institutions in Britain and North America: Politics and Paths to Reform, Toronto: UTP: Chapter 5.

WEEK 12: Fiscal instruments of public policy: budget, public spending, and taxation (1)

- Wildavsky, Aaron (1979) The Politics of the Budgetary Process (Third Edition): 1-5

- Wildavsky, Aaron (1986) Budgeting: A Comparative Theory of Budgetary Processes (Second Edition), New York: Transaction Books: Chapters 1 and 2.

- Mullard, Maurice (1993) Politics and Public Expenditure, Routledge: 42-67.

- Savoie, Donald (1990) The Politics of Public Spending in Canada, Toronto: UTP: Chapter 13.

WEEK 13: Fiscal instruments of public policy: budget, public spending, and taxation (2)

- Patashnik, Eric M. (1999) “Ideas, Inheritances and the Dynamics of Budgetary Change” Governance 12(2): 147-174.

- Peters, Guy (1991) The Politics of Taxation, Oxford: Blackwell: Chapters 1 and 9

- Rose, Richard and T. Karran (1986) Taxation by Political Inertia, London: MacMillan: Chapter 1.

- Hood, Christopher (1994) Explaining Economic Policy Reversals, Buckingham: Open University Press: Chapter 6.

REFLECTION PAPER - 3 is DUE

WEEK 14: Review