Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Assoc Prof of Sociology & Convenor & Lecturer
Shaun Wilson
Contact via email responses within 24 hrs
Australian Hearing Hub Building Level 2 South
5-6pm Monday or by appt | Class time 6-8pm MON | 23 Wally's Walk 204
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MPASR or GradDipPASR or GradCertPASR or MSocEntre or MPPP or GradDipPP or GradCertPP or MPlan or MGlobalHlthDevStud or MPH or MDevStud or MPPPMDevStud or MIntell or MCTerrorism or MSecStrategicStud or MCrim
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit examines the broader process of policy development, focusing on how different actors attempt to influence policy development. The unit covers a range of actors, from political parties, Ministers and the bureaucracy to social movements, business lobby groups and community organisations. The unit considers how these groups shape policy making and policy outcomes.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Hot topic participation | 20% | No | During semester |
Assignment | 25% | No | 7 October 2018 11.55PM |
Weekly participation | 5% | No | Ongoing |
Final exam | 50% | No | Exam period |
Due: During semester
Weighting: 20%
Choose a group and participate in a hot topic discussion that lasts for up to 45 minutes.
The groups (between 2 and 4 people) will develop a response to one of the hot topic questions. Ideally, preparation will take place outside class-time, in a meeting or via email/phone.
In each of the weeks, the assigned group will need to prepare materials and a strategy for sparking a broader discussion in the class. Formats could include speakers taking 'for' and 'against' positions, or providing some visual stimulus or reading material to generate further debate and discussion. Rather than a straightforward presentation (of 'neutral facts'), I am looking to see how the groups can mix evidence and normative arguments so that the issues at stake, as well as the tension points, in these debates can be clearly identified for everyone in class.
To get things started, some material for each topic will be provided on iLearn.
Tasks are:
(i) a one-page written summary of the main features of the debate or discussion with references
(ii) your contribution to a class discussion which might include speaking from notes, encouraging debate and discussion
(iii) your ability to respond to any questions and comments from class members and from the lecturer
Marking guidelines
Items (i) above will be awarded a score out of 10 marks. Items (ii) and (iii) will also be assessed out of a total of 10 marks. The latter mark will be your own individual assessment score.
Due: 7 October 2018 11.55PM
Weighting: 25%
This assignment requires you to answer five questions on interesting problems confronting activists, social movements and policymakers.
The format is short answer responses of up to 500 words each (total word count = 2,500 words).
Submit via Turnitin on Sunday October 7 (11.55PM).
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 5%
This unit is run with plenty of time for weekly discussion that requires active participation and engagement. Getting involved in discussions is important to the unit's success and to your mark overall.
You'll also need to attend 80% of classes and will be graded for participation and evidence of preparation for class (completed readings, etc).
So, that would mean around 10 out of the 13 weeks of classes.
Due: Exam period
Weighting: 50%
A final 2 hour exam will ask you to complete 20 multiple choice questions (approx 20 minutes) and 5 short answer questions (approx 20 mins each).
A comprehensive study guide for this exam will be provided in either week 12 or 13, depending on the timing of the exam.
As mentioned, the unit will be run as a graduate seminar with an emphasis on discussion and participation. You can expect around 50-70 minutes of discussion and a 30 minute mini-lecture from me that develops the discussion further, covers key concepts and ideas, and asks questions of the group.
The main thing is to keep in touch with the readings. It will make a major difference to your participation and enjoyment of the course. I'll give
advice to busy students about how to manage the readings so that they are easy to keep track of.
Week | Topic | Date | Hot topic week |
Part 1: Introductory weeks -- exploring the field | |||
1 | Introduction -- background concepts | 30 July | |
2 | What is activism? What are social movements? (Theory I) | 6 August | |
3 | Movement-state interactions: political opportunity structures (Theory II) | 13 August | Hot topic: Is there a role for law-breaking civil disobedience in liberal democracies? |
Part 2: Patterns of social participation and activism in Australia and the United States | |||
4 | Black lives matter | 20 August | Hot topic: Do social movements only produce 'backlash' movements -- or is there progress? |
5 |
Gun violence and firearms policy Assignment available |
27 August | |
6 | Participation in movements and protests Analysis of trends in survey data from Australia and globally. | 3 September | |
7 | When unions and environmentalists enter politics: From movements to parties | 10 September | Hot topic: Unions - now irrelevant or more important than ever? |
mid semester break | |||
8 | NO CLASS THIS MONDAY | 1 October | PUBLIC HOLIDAY |
9 | Change from within: Femocrats and HIV activists use bureaucratic agency to meet social challenges | 8 October | Discussion: waves of feminism -- what's changed? |
10 |
Lobbying for policy change (Note: Assignment due this Weds via Turnitin) |
15 October | Hot topic: What are anti-corruption movements and who joins them? |
Part 3: Contemporary problems and extensions | |||
11 | Social movements and lethal conflicts | 22 October | Hot topic: Is populism destroying our ability to make rational policy? A focus on immigration and climate policies. |
12 | Advocacy coalitions (Theory III) | 29 October | |
13 | Digital mobilisation | 5 November | Hot topic: Is digital activism leading social movements nowhere? |
14 |
Conclusion and course wrap Special revision class |
12 November | Study guide for exam released |
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results shown in iLearn, 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.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
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.
Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues
This graduate capability is supported by:
In democratic societies, we may think of policy-making as a technical process dominated by elite actors such as politicians in parliaments, analysts and bureaucrats, and lobbyists connected to ‘big interests’ or think-tanks. This view of policy-making is a fair representation of reality for the most part, but it leaves out one other important set of influences—the impact of those ‘from below’ who make up a variety of social forces and movements that act collectively to pressure for policy change and reform. Political systems produce stable structures through which policy can be produced and influenced through 'routine' channels (parliaments, committees, etc.) Occasionally, policy change involves a level of contention and conflict that forces actors to move beyond routine channels and to engage in the policy process in more activist ways.
Activism at all levels of policy-making thus involves the mobilisation of resources and power of different kinds, not only to promote particular interests but often to engage in paradigmatic and symbolic struggle over the definition, scope and meaning of policy interventions. Policy activism in turns depends on access to power, resources and networks of different kinds. A large business is likely to have access to money, advertising, influential networks, and law in the pursuit of interests whereas a community group attempting to prevent a freeway or mining project is unlikely to have such resources and will draw on collective action, symbolic challenges, access to allies, and public opinion in making its voice heard.
Of course, activist appeals are shaped by the political and policy opportunity structures that will also shape the dynamic field of the contest over policy and also shape the likelihood of success.
This course draws on themes in political sociology, social policy, policy studies, political science and political economy to help account for concepts, debates and unresolved questions about the contestation of policy in democratic societies. The subject matter is at the fascinating intersection of state structures, social movement and activist contention, and the procedures and opportunities involved in policy-making. Course content ranges from the theoretical and conceptual to the empirical and practical.
I very much hope you enjoy the course and feel comfortable to participate.
Date | Description |
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11/09/2018 | Correcting the timetable for Monday, 1 Oct, public holiday. Class to run until week 14 (Monday 12 Nov). |