Contemporary Issues in Governance

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject examines the dynamics of contemporary public governance in Australia and overseas. Students will investigate traditional and emerging governance models, with an emphasis on the changing nature of governance in the "network society", against the backdrop of an increasingly global social and economic order. Attention will be given both to contemporary changes to the organisation of the public sector in both industrialised and non-OECD countries, and to the increasing role of civil society and other non-governmental actors in contemporary governance processes. The subject will combine theoretical work on the nature of contemporary governance with studies of current policy and program debates. On completion of this subject students should have a well developed critical understanding of a range of governance models operating in contemporary society. understand the implications of emergent governance models for civil society and other non-government actors. understand the relationship(s) between global influences and emerging governance frameworks. have developed the analytical skills necessary to apply the above knowledge to critical evaluation of policy development and implementation in Australian and international contexts.

• have developed skills in policy analysis.
• have developed the capacity to analyse the institutional context in which policies are developed and implemented.
• have developed a research capacity for policy analysis.
• have developed an understanding of models of governance as they apply to public policy.
• demonstrate competence in advanced research.

A subject reader will be available for purchase from the University Bookshop.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• show competence in critical, creative and theoretical thinking through essay writing, seminar discussion and presentations, conceptualising theoretical problems, forming judgements and arguments from conflicting evidence, and by critical analysis.
• demonstrate proficiency in the application of policy analysis skills to empirical problems.
• demonstrate an understanding of the academic protocols of research and presentation.