Course content

The state is challenged by a series of developments like, for example, new organization forms, privatization, regionalization, Euroization, globalization, and demographic changes. This means that the complexity and governmental challenges are increasing, both politically and for the administration. We study how these traits can be understood in a power perspective, and how the development influences the room of maneuvering for leaders in the public sector, so that the students are well-equipped to shoulder greater responsibility in the public sector. The course also includes political values and comparative methods.

• What is political science?
• The development of the modern state
• Comparative methods
• Political values
• Leadership in the public sector
• From administration to governance
• Ability to implement
• The relationship between the state and municipality
• Ethnic relations and demographic changes
• Environmental challenges
• Sustainable development goals

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The student:

• Master central concepts in the course, like politics, power, democracy, legitimacy, public- and political govern
• Understand how liberal economic theories influence the public sector, and why co-directing and network-leadership has become central concepts
• Has knowledge about state theory, and how the state has developed throughout time
• Has an understanding about the relationship between the state and municipality
• Has an understanding of political values, ethnic relations, and how demographic changes may affect welfare states

Skills

The student:

• Should be able to employ political science perspectives in actual decision making
• Should be able to take different societal considerations in his or her work

General knowledge

The student:

• Should be able to analyze cases using different perspectives, have knowledge of the political system and how political leadership affects the state and society

Learning methods and activities

Teaching methods and activities

Our point of departure is problem-based learning. The students will be trained in applying new knowledge to solve assignments and challenges they will face in their working life. The students should read the curriculum before the lectures. The lion's share of teaching will be by way of traditional lectures with room for dialogue. These will be given by the subject coordinators, supplemented by guest lecturers. Lectures are followed by structured group assignments as well as plenary discussion. A presumption is that the students participate in the lectures. The lectures are coordinated with the other core subjects, so that some of the lecture-weeks has an explicit character of integration.

The course includes a mandatory workshop in Brüssels.

Compulsory assignments

• Mandatory Assessment

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

None except required admission to the program.

Credit reductions