New Frontiers in Public Governance

The state’s role in the effective implementation of public policies forms a central element of contemporary political debates around the world, but significant variation exists between states in their capacity to govern such arrangements. In this subject, students will learn about contemporary governance and its implications for state capacity and democracy. By developing their knowledge of theories of the state and governance in relation to the policymaking process, students will apply conceptual tools to assess whether new forms of governance challenge traditional notions of the nation-state, drawing comparisons between different policy fields and country settings. Students will also develop their skills in applied political and policy analysis by learning about contemporary trends facing state systems in the administration of public services in areas such as: collaborative governance and metagovernance; multi-level governance and global policy networks; transnational and private governance; as well as democratic backsliding and populist forms of governance. Students will use these skills to design a governance reform in line with contemporary governance trends and with awareness of their implications.