Admission requirements
The course is meant for Honours students of FGGA.
Description
Why does Sweden consistently rank among the least corrupt countries in the world, while other nations struggle with endemic corruption? Why are some governments more efficient and effective than others? What makes a "good government," and can successful governance models be transferred between different cultural contexts?
This course investigates these fundamental questions by exploring the institutional foundations of effective governance from a global comparative perspective. Drawing on cutting-edge research and contemporary cases, students will examine how different countries structure their government institutions and how these choices affect corruption levels, efficiency, public service delivery, and citizen trust.
The course provides a unique opportunity for students to apply comparative frameworks to real-world governance challenges across Europe and beyond. We'll analyze the striking contrasts between different governance systems worldwide and investigate the institutional foundations that contribute to government success or failure. Recent efficiency-focused reforms seen in various countries around the world prompt a critical question we'll examine throughout the course: Is making government more efficient always a good thing? We'll explore the potential trade-offs between efficiency and other important values like accountability, equity, and expertise.
Through engaging discussions, comparative analysis, and examination of real-world cases, students will gain insights that go beyond typical political debates to understand the fundamental building blocks of effective governance. The course emphasizes both analytical understanding and the development of communication skills through structured debates and presentations on governance challenges.
No prior background in political science or public administration is required - just curiosity about why some governments work better than others and what that means for citizens around the world.
Course objectives
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
Explain why government performance and efficiency vary dramatically between different countries
Identify key factors that contribute to reducing corruption and improving public services
Analyze how institutional design affects outcomes that matter to citizens
Critically evaluate whether making government more efficient is always desirable and understand potential trade-offs with other values
Question assumptions about what constitutes "good government" in different contexts
Apply comparative thinking to evaluate governance systems across cultural contexts
Develop effective public speaking and presentation skills through structured class activities
Provide and receive constructive feedback during peer discussions and presentations
Engage in evidence-based, respectful debates about controversial governance reforms
Timetable
On the right side of the programme front page of the e-Prospectus you will find links to the website and timetables, MyStudymap, uSis and Brightspace.
Mode of instruction
The course contains a mixture of lectures, guest speech, in-class group discussions and activities. Main emphasis is on the interaction among students, with guest lecturers, and discussions during the lecture.
Total study load 140 hrs – contact hours: 18 – self-study hours: 122
Assessment method
The final grade is based on a variation of different assignments that run throughout the course. These include:
Class attendance and participation (20%)
Group presentation (25%)
Final Paper (55%)
Each component should receive a sufficient grade (> 5.5) in order for students to pass the course.
All partial grades should be sufficient (5.5) and cannot compensate for each other.
Reading list
The reading list containing a mixture of articles and book chapters will be made available on the Brightspace site.
Registration
Registration will be done by Honours coordinator.
Please note: USIS and Brightspace registration will be done centrally.
Contact
Dr. Kohei Suzuki: k.suzuki@fgga.leidenuniv.nl
Honours Coordinator: a.j.e.righolt@fgga.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
Brightspace is indispensable for this course. All assignments will be made available and need to be handed in via Brighspace and conducted plagiarism checks by Turnitin. The page is available approximately two weeks before the course starts.