Admission requirements
This course is for Master students Public Administration, track International and European Governance only.
Description
This course introduces students to the variety of decision-making processes and procedures in multi-level governance settings: from local, regional and national decision making processes, to the densely institutionalised setting of European Union policymaking and the more informal and unregulated setting of global political decision-making. We will use a variety of decision-making theories (e.g. rational choice, behaviouralism, constructivism) to explore such topics as power, conflict, collective choice, time, strategic behaviour, uncertainty, and ideational change.
Course objectives
Understand and compare the key theories and concepts in state-of-the-art policy-making and decision-making literatures
Advanced understanding of how multi-level governance systems constrain or enable decision-making on complex (trans)national policy issues
Advanced understanding of the complexity of decision-making situations which real actors are confronted with
Identify and apply effectively a relevant theoretical framework to analyse real life problems and cases in a conceptually rigorous manner
Critically evaluate the effects of various multi-level decision-making systems on the outputs and outcomes of national, international and EU policy processes
Build, present and defend well-grounded arguments in oral communication
Labour market
This course aims to develop an understanding of practical cases through different theoretical lenses. The practice of decision making in multi-level governance systems is at the core of this course, potentially closely related to what students after their studies will work on in jobs in the public and private sector.
Timetable
On the right side of programme front page of the E-guide you will find links to the website and timetables, uSis and Brightspace.
Mode of instruction
Seminars: interactive discussions of the literature, group presentations of application of various theoretical lenses to the literature, simulation game.
Further structured study (preparation for team presentations)
Self-study (course reading, writing reflection note on simulation game, preparing weekly reflection reports on the assigned literature)
Assessment method
Written reflection reports on the assigned literature, weekly (individually, 50%)
Group presentation on application of theory to case of multi-level governance decision-making (group, 25%)
Written reflection note on simulation game (individually, 25%)
In order to pass the course, students must receive 1) an average grade of 5.5 or higher on the written assignments; and 2) a grade of 5.5 or higher on ALL components averaged together.
Re-takes
A re-take for the individual written reflection report and the individual written reflection note on the simulation will be provided in the regular resit period. If a student passes both the reflection reports and the reflection note, but still has an insufficient grade (5.0 or lower), an individual oral examination will be given as “re-take” for the group presentation component.
Partial grades are only valid in the current academic year; partial grades will not remain valid after the exam and the resit of the course.
Reading list
The compulsory readings consist of a set of journal articles. The reading list is posted on Brightspace a month before the start of the course
Registration
Register for every course and workgroup via uSis. Registration for courses and workgroups in uSis is possible from 16 December, 13.00h. Some courses and workgroups have a limited number of participants, so register on time (before the course starts). In uSis you can access your personal schedule and view your results.
Leiden University uses Brightspace as its online learning management system. After enrolment for the course in uSis you will be automatically enrolled in the Brightspace environment of this course.
Contact
Dr. R. de Ruiter
Gebouw: Wijnhaven
Kamer: 4.120
r.de.ruiter@fgga.leidenuniv.nl