Mål og innhald
The aim of this course is to provide the students with an understanding of the structures and processes of public administration in the Scandinavian countries. Both the external and internal organization of the public administration will be addressed by focusing on public administration as core element in democratic governance in Scandinavia. The course will have a focus on central government but will also apply a multi-level governance approach to public administration focusing on the relationships between different levels of administration - local, regional, national and supranational. The mixture of markets, hierarchy and networks as organizational forms will be discussed and the Scandinavian tradition of corporatist arrangements and citizens' participation will be focused on. Administrative reform policy and institutional change will be addressed by focusing on bureaucratic systems, neo-Weberaian models, and New Public Management as well as post-NPM reforms. Reforms in different policy areas will be described and analyzed.
Theoretically the course will apply an organization theory based institutional approach and discuss the importance of deliberate choice, structural constraints, historical traditions and culture as well as external pressure to understand how public administration in Scandinavia develop, change and work in practice.
Læringsutbyte/resultat
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to;
- Understand, and demonstrate knowledge about public administration in the Scandinavian countries,
- Critically discuss and analyze differences and similarities between countries and administrative levels, changes and reforms over time both regarding the internal as well as the external organization of the public administration
- Provide an insight to various institutional, organizational, historical and external processes that affect the development, maintenance and change of public administration.
Undervisningssemester
Spring
Institutt
Department of Administration and Organization Theory
Krav til studierett
The course is open for students who have been accepted to the Master´s program at the Department of Administration and Organization Theory. Erasmus students can attend the course, if they fulfill the recommended requirements.
Tilrådde forkunnskapar
An undergraduate degree including courses in political science, public administration, and/or organization theory equaling a minimum of 1.5 years of full-time studies.
Undervisning og omfang
10-15 lectures including 3-4 workshops
Obligatoriske arbeidskrav
The students will also be required to present a draft of their paper in a workshop and to comment on another student¿s paper. The workshops are mandatory. Approved compulsory requirements are valid for one semester.
Vurderingsformer
Paper approximate 4500-5500 words ( approximate 15 pages)
Emneevaluering
The course is evaluated every third year.
UiB