166-427 Governance and Complexity

Formerly available as 166-051. Students who have completed 166-051 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in political science or public policy and management or postgraduate coursework programs in political science or public policy and management.

One consequence of globalisation is that interactions of the domestic and international, and of the public and private domains, become increasingly complex and multilayered. This subject investigates the implications of this for contemporary governance. Governance is defined as the organisation of collective action, characteristic of groups and social structures, and entailing a mix of three ideal types of organisation: hierarchies, markets and networks. In particular, we will explore various modes of 'governance without government', with an emphasis on governance across national political boundaries. A central concern of our investigation is to understand the organisation of collective action and the provision of public goods, outside of the traditional domain of the nation state. We will also explore a range of institutional and policy innovations, and evaluate their political feasibility.

• be able to apply research skills and critical methods;

• be able to develop persuasive arguments;

• able to communicate oral and written arguments and ideas effectively.

A 3000-word essay 60% (due mid-semester) and a 2-hour examination 40% (due during the examination period).