Bachelor 2020/2021

Ethics in Policy&Decision Making

Type: Compulsory course (Public Policy and Analytics)

Area of studies: Public Administration

Delivered by: Department of Public Administration

Where: Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences and Area Studies

When: 4 year, 1 module

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: Mariia V. Rubtсova

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 28

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course explores some issues in ethics in the social-economic policy. The modern public and business sectors began to rethink and rebuild their commitment to society and to ethical problems. The aim of this course is to provide students with an understanding of modern ideas and trends in ethics in the social-economic policy and its influence on the decigion-making process.

Learning Objectives

• The course introduces students to the concepts of ethics of social-economic environment in its mutual influence on the decision-making process

Expected Learning Outcomes

• - to increase understanding and critical analysis of the intersection between ethical behavior and social-economic outcomes in modern society; - to study different theoretical perspectives of ethical communication in Russian and international contexts; - to analyze principles and criteria for regulation of ethical behavior for different stakeholders; - to discuss some decision-making criteria for solving ethical conflicts; - to develop professional communication practices for students.

Course Contents

• Theoretical framework and Principles of Ethics in the social-economic environment in its mutual influence on the decision-making process
  a. Introduction to the course. b. Main theoretical problems of Ethics in the social-economic environment c. Principles of Ethics in the social-economic environment
• The history of the development of socio-economic ethics
  a. Consideration of the main stages in the development of socio-economic ethics. b. The study of theories that serve as the basis for the study of ethics as a scientific discipline. c.Morality and law. Historical roots of ethical and professional values
• Norms and principles of ethics in socio-economic policy and decision-making
  Consideration of the fundamental concepts, definitions, and documents of modern ethics. Study of ethical cases in socio-economic policy, illustrating the current norms and principles. Ethical standards of service conduct. The relationship between morality and legal culture in the service. Requirements for the performance of official duties. Codes of Ethics and Service Conduct in the Russian Federation. Public speaking and providing proprietary information
• Intercultural features of ethics in socio-economic policy.
  Study of the features of ethics in social-economic policy in different countries. Analysis of the role of ethics in the interaction between countries in the field of socio-economic development and in decision-making at the international level.

Assessment Elements

• Essays
• Home task
• Final exam
  In the case of a high grade for the essay and homework of 8-10 points, the student is exempted from writing the final test. Her/his resulting grade will be equal to the accumulated

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (1 module)
  0.3 * Essays + 0.4 * Final exam + 0.3 * Home task

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• The Oxford handbook of environmental ethics, , 2017
• When all else fails : the ethics of resistance to state injustice, Brennan, J., 2019

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• A history of utilitarian ethics : studies in private motivation and distributive justice, 1700-1875, Hollander, S., 2020
• Ethics in social science research : becoming culturally responsive, Lahman, M. K. E., 2018
• The ethics of multiple citizenship, Tanasoca, A., 2018