Master 2024/2025

Analysis of Public Policy in the Post-Soviet Countries

Type: Elective course (Comparative Politics of Eurasia)

Area of studies: Political Science

Delivered by: Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Where: Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences

When: 2 year, 1, 2 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Andrey Starodubtsev, Denis Stremoukhov

Master’s programme: Comparative Politics of Eurasia

Language: English

ECTS credits: 6

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This course is built around the tension between normative approaches to policymaking and Policy Studies perspectives on the political nature of the policymaking process. The course integrates the discussions of applied topics and policy memo writing with key concepts and theories in policy studies, alongside an exploration of the unique challenges and dynamics of policymaking and governance in post-Soviet contexts.

Learning Objectives

• Provide students with a solid understanding of fundamental concepts and theories in policy studies, enabling effective analysis and application to various policy contexts.
• to make students able identify and critically assess the distinctive features and challenges of policymaking and governance in post-Soviet states, using appropriate analytical frameworks
• to equip students with the skills of applied policy analysis and policy paper writing

Expected Learning Outcomes

• understands of fundamental concepts and theories in policy studies
• understands fundamental concepts and theories in policy studies
• writes well-structured policy papers that integrate insights from policy studies
• identifies the distinctive features and challenges of policymaking and governance in post-Soviet states
• assesses existing evidence and evaluation research for applied purposes

Course Contents

• Introduction to Policy Analysis and Policy Studies
• Multiples Streams Framework
• Advocacy Coalitions Framework
• Evidence-based policymaking and policy evaluation
• Writing policy papers
• Policy design
• Governance in the post-Soviet space
• Policy asessment and evaluation

Assessment Elements

• In-class participation
  The instructor grades the participation in discussions, answers to instructor’s questions and overall involvement in the in-class activities and group work.
• Policy paper
  The final project for the course is a policy paper of one of the types discussed in the course. The word count is 1,500 words (+/- 10%).
• Test
  The test covers the theoretical material discussed throughout the course.

Interim Assessment

• 2024/2025 2nd module
  0.5 * Policy paper + 0.3 * Test + 0.2 * In-class participation

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Weible, C. M., & Sabatier, P. A. (2017). Theories of the Policy Process (Vol. Fourth edition). Boulder, CO: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1451128

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Cairney, P. (2016). The Politics of Evidence-Based Policy Making. New York: Palgrave Pivot. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1203451

Authors

• Starodubtsev Andrei Vladimirovich
• STREMOUKHOV DENIS Aleksandrovich