Public Policy in the Asian Century

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

170 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 21st century and holds the potential to generate a paradigm shift in how we understand public policy, administration and management. Australian policy makers are actively turning their attention to the policy, governance and practice changes required to maintain Australia’s economic and political influence 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. In the first instance, students will consider what is meant by the Asian Century in relation to shifting economic, political and social power and what this means for international relations and governance. Students will explore what it means to be ‘Asia capable’. In particular, the course will examine how key Asian nations view and action public policy in order to understand key differences and similiarities in the way public policy is conceptualized and acted on from a Western perspective. As part of this, students will explore how key Western-style institutions, practices and orientations which comprise ‘public administration’, ‘public management’ and ‘public governance’ might be limited by or changed within the context of increasing Asian influence in the global and regional public policy sphere.

This highly interactive course 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 are the differences in terms of how public policy is viewed) and conduct (i.e. how public policy is made and realised) of future public policy.

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 critical appreciation of what is meant by the Asian Century and its broader implications for Australia’s public policy environment, along with the future role of regional institutions;

• Have developed a capacity to understand and examine key characteristics and features of public policy making in those Asian nations which are likely to have a significant influence in steering and shaping ‘the Asian Century’;

• Have developed a critical understanding of how the growing influence of Asian public policy might impact on domestic cultural, education, social and other policy spheres in a way which can be applied directly to future policy work; and

• Have developed a range of practical and analytical comparative public policy skills applicable to Australasian public sector settings.

A 2000 word essay (40%) due mid-semester and a 3000 word essay and 10 minute "conference presentation" (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.