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Comparative Public Administration - POL00094M

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  • Department: Politics
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Elena Davidescu
  • Credit value: Information currently unavailable
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22

Module summary

This course provides an introduction to comparative public administration by looking at common problems and examples of systems of public administration around the world and a more in-depth case study on the UK system.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2021-22

Module aims

The course addresses two key aims of the MPA with Placement programme: a knowledge and critical understanding of the main issues and events that have shaped the development of Public Administration in the UK at both national and sub-national settings, coupled with practitioner visits and talks, as well as putting these developments in a comparative perspective with a look at different national settings in other parts of the world.

The module will have an integrated programme of group visits to local and national level institutions, practitioner talks and round tables that mirror the academic content of the module.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students will be able to:

  • Understand and be able to describe the main institutional and procedural elements of public administration in the countries studied within the module.
  • Independently identify and understand the major debates on the question of comparative analysis in public administration and management.
  • The students will develop an understanding of the processes of reform and transformation in public administration systems and engage with policy practitioners on the latest policy developments.
  • Develop transferable skills, including gathering information, communicating effectively both orally and in writing, participating actively in constructive discussions, criticising different points of views, carrying out interdisciplinary analysis and learning independently, interacting with policy practitioners. 
  • Inter-personal skills - Work effectively in group projects to produce policy analysis.
  • Research skills - Independently find and use relevant empirical data and literature for particular policy cases.

Module content

1. The UK central Government and the evolution of public administration

2. The UK local level Government and the devolution process

3. Influencing public policy-making in the UK: a lobbyist perspective

4. Continental systems of public administration

5. Public Administration systems in Post-Communist States

6. Public Administration and decision-making in the European Union

7. Public Administration systems in Latin America

8. Public Administration systems in South East Asia

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
2000 words comparative public administration essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

Pass/fail

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
2000 words comparative public administration essay		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Students will be provided with feedback on their work within 20 working days of submission.

Indicative reading

 

Peters, G. and Pierre, J. (2012) The SAGE Handbook of Public Administration (eds.), Sage, London.

 

Walle Van de Brans (2018) ‘Where Comparative Public Administration and Comparative Policy studies meet’, Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis, vol. 20(1): 101-113.

 

Craft, J. and Halligan, J., (2017) Assessing 30 years of Westminster policy advisory system experience. Policy Sciences, 50(1): 47–62.

 

Pollitt, C., (2011) Not odious but onerous: Comparative public administration. Public Administration, 89(1): 114–127.

 

Cheung, A. (2013) ‘Can there be an Asian model of Public Administration?’ Public Administration and Development, 33(4): 249-261.

 

 


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.