Students

POIR3060 – Policy Making in a Global Era

2022 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor/lectuer
Jonathan Symons
jonathan.symons@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
Room 252, Level 2, 25B Wally's Walk
Thursday 10am-11am
Tutor
Conor Keane
conor.keane@mq.edu.au
Lecturer
Vincenzo Scappatura
vincenzo.scappatura@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above OR (20cp in POL or POIR or POIX units at 2000 level).
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The study of public policy has traditionally been focused on the nation-state, and policy-making activities at the domestic level. However, national policy-makers are increasingly focused on international policy challenges. Using a series of detailed case studies, this unit reflects critically on debates around globalisation and the state. The unit introduces students to the policy process and explores the impact of international institutions, interests and ideas on domestic policy-making. The unit examines direct and indirect, coercive and voluntary mechanisms of policy transfer, diffusion and mobility, as well as the factors that shape patterns of intergovernmental cooperation and coordination.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate a critical understanding of the various theoretical perspectives on the impact of globalisation on the role of the State.
  • ULO2: Describe the policy-making process and identify points at which international factors impact on domestic policy capacity.
  • ULO3: Explain the roles played by institutions and actors, both domestic and international, in the policy process.
  • ULO4: Describe the various mechanisms through which policy is transferred from one jurisdiction to another.
  • ULO5: Locate, assess and analyse relevant evidence and information related to public policy in the national and international spheres.

General Assessment Information

Special Consideration & Late Submission Penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests, etc.

https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Participation 30% No Submit to ilearn: 23:00, Monday in your allocated week.
Class Tests 20% No Test 1: Wednesday 30 March; Test 2: Wednesday 1 June
Research essay 50% No 17:00 27/05/2022

Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Submit to ilearn: 23:00, Monday in your allocated week.
Weighting: 30%

 

Students will be assessed on writing and presenting a policy brief in respect of one policy case study, and on their responses to other students’ presentations. See ilearn for details. The policy brief is to be submitted to ilearn 48 hours prior to the tutorial. Presentations will be either in tutorials or via online discussion.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the various mechanisms through which policy is transferred from one jurisdiction to another.
  • Locate, assess and analyse relevant evidence and information related to public policy in the national and international spheres.

Class Tests

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Test 1: Wednesday 30 March; Test 2: Wednesday 1 June
Weighting: 20%

 

Quizzes based on class readings – see ilearn for details.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the policy-making process and identify points at which international factors impact on domestic policy capacity.
  • Explain the roles played by institutions and actors, both domestic and international, in the policy process.
  • Describe the various mechanisms through which policy is transferred from one jurisdiction to another.

Research essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 17:00 27/05/2022
Weighting: 50%

 

2500 word research essay requiring independent research on a policy question. Essay questions and marking criteria will be provided on iLearn.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the various theoretical perspectives on the impact of globalisation on the role of the State.
  • Describe the policy-making process and identify points at which international factors impact on domestic policy capacity.
  • Explain the roles played by institutions and actors, both domestic and international, in the policy process.
  • Describe the various mechanisms through which policy is transferred from one jurisdiction to another.
  • Locate, assess and analyse relevant evidence and information related to public policy in the national and international spheres.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

There is no text book for this unit. All essential readings will be provided through the unit's Leganto page (or links on ilearn). Students will need to conduct some of their own research online and/ or in the library to complete assessment tasks.

Lectures

Lectures (Monday, 3-5pm A207 Tutorial Room - 25 Wallys Walk) will be recorded and available via Echo360/ ilearn. If you are even slightly unwell please listen to the lecture online rather than attend class.

Tutorials:

Regular tutorial attendance is expected of all on-campus students. However, if you are even slightly unwell or are required to isolate please do not attend class. 

For classrooms please consult the MQ Timetable: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au. This website will display up-to-date information on your classes and classroom locations. If any classes move to zoom, links will be available on ilearn.

External and OUA students are expected to participate in the unit discussion board (ilearn) each week. External and OUA students will be able to complete all tasks off campus.

Unit Schedule

Week 1 - Monday 21 Feb Ideas, interests and institutions in public policy

Week 2 - Monday 28 Feb Thinking critically about the ‘state’. Key case: Settler colonial states and the policies that perpetuate structural racism.

Week 3 - Monday 7 March Policy processes - how policies are made; where policy ideas come from. Key case study: Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme

*First week of weekly policy brief submission and presentation. Each student must select one week in weeks 3-12 to submit a brief to ilearn (Monday 11pm) and present it to the class (Wednesday).

Week 4 - Monday 14 March The institutions of global policy-making. Key case study: Trade regulation: from the World Trade Organisation to Sino-US trade tensions

Week 5 - Monday 21 March Activists, ideas and social norms Key case studies: Modern Slavery Legislation & Indigenous transnational organising.

Week 6 -  Monday 28th March Dr. Elenie Poulos The role of secular and religious civil society in national and global policy-making Key case studies: Discrimination law – from sex discrimination to religious discrimination

Test 1 on readings from weeks 1-6: Wednesday 30 March

Week 7 - Monday 4 April Economic ideas in national policy-making. Key case study – climate policy;

_______________________________

MID SEMESTER BREAK: 11 to 25 April 2022 No lecture or tutorials in Week 8 owing to the public holiday. Week 9 Monday 1 May – International interests and national policy-making i. corporate influence Key case study: corporate influence and “platform governance”

Week 10 - Monday 9 May - Dr. Vince Scappatura International interests II: foreign state influence. Key cases: US and Chinese influence on Australian society and policy-making.

Week 11 - Monday 16 May - Dr. Vince Scappatura Policy transfer Key cases: International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons & Refugee Policy.

Week 12 - Monday 23 May  Covid-19 and comparative crisis responses.

Essay due date: Friday 27 May 5pm.

Week 13  - Monday 30 May Citizen’s engagement – from protest to deliberative democracy.

Test on readings from weeks 7-13: Wednesday 1 June

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
11/02/2022 Unit schedule added. Dates presented in correct format.

Unit information based on version 2022.03 of the Handbook