Бакалавриат 2026/2027

Политический анализ

Статус: Курс обязательный (Политология и мировая политика)

Кто читает: Департамент политологии и международных отношений

Где читается: Санкт-Петербургская школа социальных наук

Когда читается: 3-й курс, 1, 2 модуль

Охват аудитории: для своего кампуса

Преподаватели: Стремоухов Денис Александрович

Язык: английский

Кредиты: 5

Контактные часы: 54

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This mandatory course examines the policy process in different political and geographical contexts. The course considers how policy problems are identified and framed, and how interventions are formed and evaluated. Through lectures and interactive seminars based on core literature, policy material and a project exercise, students learn and apply key concepts in policy studies, get first knowledge of the policy cycle from initiation to implementation and evaluation, and examine the actors, interests and institutions (domestic and external) that shape policy processes and outcomes. Different traditions in policy analysis and normative aspects of the policy process are critically examined, including Russia-specific factors of policymaking. The course consists of two parts. The first part concentrates on the main theories and models of the policy process and discusses their implications for applied policy analysis. The second part deals with the topics lying on the intersection of Policy Studies and Policy Analysis such as evidence-based policymaking and policy transfer. This is not an easy course, so students are strongly recommended to organize their schedule in advance and be ready for a significant amount of readings.

Learning Objectives

• The goal of the course is to teach students to analyze the policy process with the use of different theories as well as to give them a basic understanding of policy evaluation methods and principles.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• understands how policy issues are problematized and policy responses are designed, implemented, monitored and evaluated in different political and geographical contexts
• understands key concepts in policy studies and apply them to/in specific problems/contexts
• conducts prospective assessment of policy options

Course Contents

• Introduction: why are we here?
• What are public policies and why do (not) we want to analyze them? What are public policy problems?
• The Policy Cycle approach to public policy studies
• Punctuated Equilibrium Theory
• Multiple Streams Framework
• Advocacy Coalition Framework
• Policy Transfer and Diffusion
• Evidence-Based Policy-Making or Policy-Based Evidence-Making?
• Prospective policy evaluation
• Policy Implementation: Bureaucracy and Compliance
• Qualitative and Quantitative Policy Evaluation
• Policy Legitimation: stakeholders’ engagement, input and output legitimacy
• Policy paper presentations

Assessment Elements

• Policy brief
  During the course, students are to prepare a team project — a policy bief advising a governmental body on a topic of the students’ choice. Papers define a clear policy problem (policy failure), are characterized both by empirical and analytical rigor, and provide persuasive policy recommendations on the chosen topic. The paper must analyze the background of a certain policy decision (why and how the government decided to do what it did), why the status quo is problematic, and what can be done to solve the problem). The work on the project wiil feature the preparation of the text, presentation of the results to the instructor and classmates, and the fulfillment of three low-stake written assignments "Checkpoints" aimed at ensuring the continuing work on the policy paper throughout the course and connecting it with the course material. The teams will be formed randomly by the instructor. The use of AI tools for generating the text of the paper is allowed for a limited number of purposes (see the attached file with grading criteria for the detailed AI Policy).
• Final exam
  The exam is a test with 20 closed and 3 open-ended questions. It is a BLOCKING element.
• Test
  There will be two tests covering the material of the preceding lectures and seminars. The tests will include multiple-choice questions as well as open questions. The dates of the tests will be announced in advance.
• In-class participation
  Students are expected to attend each seminar and participate regularly in discussions. The instructor evaluates participation based on the quality of answers, evidence of engagement with the assigned readings and homework, and the overall level of involvement in class activities.

Interim Assessment

• 2026/2027 2nd module
  0.25 * Test + 0.35 * Final exam + 0.25 * Policy brief + 0.15 * In-class participation

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Cairney, P. (2016). The Politics of Evidence-Based Policy Making. New York: Palgrave Pivot. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1203451
• Thissen, W. A. H., & Walker, W. E. (2013). Public Policy Analysis : New Developments. New York: Springer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=537663

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Shapiro, S. (2016). Analysis and Public Policy. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1194861

Authors

• STREMOUKHOV DENIS Aleksandrovich