What are institutions, and how are they different from other social phenomena? What effects do institutions have on the behaviour of actors? How can institutions overcome collective action problems? Can institutions change the preferences of social actors? How do institutions change and when do they remain stable? Is rapid institutional change possible, and under what conditions?
These are some of the questions which we are going to discuss during the sessions of this course. Institutional analysis, in its various forms, is the bedrock of contemporary research in public administration and much of the social sciences. This course will deal with recent theoretical developments in institutionalist theories, with an emphasis on the application of institutionalist theories in public administration research and analysis. We will address institutional development, stability and change. The course will provide an overview of the contributions and shortcomings of institutional analysis to understanding governance and public life in general.
The objectives of this course are:
To offer a theoretical and empirical overview of the multiple effects institutions exert
To offer examples of empirical analyses based on institutionalist theories
To help students increase their understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different institutional approaches (historical, rational choice and normative institutionalisms)
To provide discussion of processes of institutional design and change
To provide the skills to apply institutional reasoning to the analysis of real-world problems and especially questions relevant to public administration and public policy.
To provide the skills to apply institutional reasoning to the analysis of real-world problems and especially questions relevant to public administration and public policy.
The course contributes to Objective 1 (orientation on the content and foundations of various areas of public administration) and Objective 2 (academic skills).
Lecturers
Dr. Maarja Beerkens
Dr. Antoaneta Dimitrova
Literature
Various articles and chapters to be posted on blackboard.
Methods of Instruction
Seminar discussions
Assessment
The grade will be based on weekly assignments and final paper.
Method of work
Students will be divided into 4-5 groups and class meetings are used for an active discussion of the reading materials. Other assignments and team tasks are also used to facilitate learning.
Schedule
first lecture:
Thursday 8/9 in SA-41
Time: 10-13u
workgroup 1:
Friday 16/9 t/m 14/10: 5B02 except: 30/9 and 14/10:5A29
Time: 13-14.30hr
workgroup 2:
Friday 16/9 t/m 14/10: 5B02 except: 30/9 and 14/10: 5A29
Time: 14.3016.00 hr
workgroup 3;
Thursday 15/9 t/m 13/10 in 5A41
Time: 11.00-12.30 hr
workgroup 4:
Thursday 15/9 t/m 13/10 in 5A41
Time: 15.00-16.30 hr
workgroup 5:
Thursday 15/9 t/m 13/10 in 5A41
Time: 16.30-18.00 hr
Last lecture:
Thursday 20/10 from 15-17 hrs in SA-41