Public Policy in the Asian Century

This subject is not offered in 2014.

120 hours

Admission to the Master of Public Policy and Management

Political Science at an undergraduate level

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/

The rise of Asia will be a defining feature of the 21 st century. Australian policy makers are actively turning their attention to the policy, governance and practice changes required to maintain Australia’s economic and political strength in the region, while broadening and strengthening relationships with Asian nations.

This subject will provide students with the necessary foundations for creating, analysing and implementing public policy in the context of the Asian Century. Students will explore the implications of shifting economic, political and social relations for how public policy is made and managed. We will critically analyse key institutions and practices which comprise ‘public administration’, ‘public management’ and ‘public governance’ to investigate whether and how these are changing in the context of increasing Asian influence. Students will gain exposure to comparative public policy and will explore what it means for the Australian public service to be ‘Asia literate’.

This highly interactive subject will engage important theoretical discussions and translate key concepts into practice through the exploration of case studies from across the Asian region. Students will engage with the ongoing public debate about 'the Asian Century' to explore how it may shape the content (i.e. what does public policy include/exclude), construct (i.e. what is public policy and how does it differ between nations and cultures) and conduct (i.e. how public policy is made and realised) of future public policy. The Asian Century holds the potential to generate a paradigm shift in how we understand public policy, administration and management, equivalent to the impacts of neo-liberalism and the New Public Management of the late 20th century. Upon successful completion of this subject, students will be better placed to understand and engage with public policy in the context of the Asian Century.

On successful completion of this subject, students should:

• Have developed a clear understanding of the various domains influencing policy and management, including, values, governance, institutions, issues, practices, performance, politics, and democracy;
• Have developed a critical appreciation of the implications of the Asian Century for Australia’s foreign and economic policies, along with the future role of regional institutions;
• Have developed a capacity to examine what ‘the Asian Century’ might mean for domestic cultural, education, social and other policy;
• Have developed a critical understanding of ‘Asia’ and ‘Asia literacy’ which can be applied directly to future policy work; and
• Have developed a range of practical and analytical skills applicable to Australasian public sector settings.

A 2000 word essay (40%) due mid-semester and a 3000 word essay (60%) due in the examination period.

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Regular participation in class is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

A selection of readings for the subject will be placed on the LMS.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students should:

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