POLS442-20S2 (C) Semester Two 2020

Policy and Governance in Small States of New Zealand and the Pacific

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 13 July 2020
End Date: Sunday, 8 November 2020
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 24 July 2020
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 25 September 2020

Description

This course provides an advanced introduction to policy making and governance challenges in small states, with a particular focus on New Zealand and the small states of the Pacific. Students will be introduced to Pacific and New Zealand political economy/development/challenges, building on insights into the cultural capital, opportunities and risks (environmental, social and economic) that these communities face. Through regional case studies of policy development and governance and seminars with practitioners and community leaders, students will also have opportunities to gain experience in locally led problem solving.

Course Aims:
This course provides an advanced introduction to policy making and governance challenges in small states, with a particular focus on New Zealand and Fiji amongst the small states of the Pacific.    A key feature of this course is the opportunity to compliment insights into small state governance and policy making challenges with opportunities to develop skills of critical thinking, research, presentation, (oral and written) and practical problem solving to equip future policy makers, professionals, development managers, government officials, civil society organization personnel and community leaders, with skills and knowledge. From time to time speakers from NGOs, national and local leaders and community advocates and case studies, simulations and class debates will reinforce professional learning.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course students will have: a consolidated understanding of the key principles of policy making in small states- including an insight into skills of small cross cultural community policy making and analysis; skills in research writing and analysis of policy challenges in Pacific and New Zealand; oral presentation of policy debates and demonstrated critical thinking for public policy and community governance challenges in non-profit and private sectors.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Head of Department.

Restrictions

POLS402

Course Coordinators

Bronwyn Hayward and Steven Ratuva

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Research Essay 40% 4,000 words
Final Exam 30%
Critical Reflection 30% 1,500 words and 20 minute presentation (20% written + 10% oral)

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Texts:
The philosophy of teaching is to learn by doing. You are expected to come to class and have read at least one of the recommended readings BEFORE the session so you can actively participate. We draw initially suggest sampling some of these works

• Ratuva, S. 2017. Anxiety and Diminished Hope: The Potential Impact of Trump’s Presidency on Pacific Security. Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, 107: 165-173. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00358533.2017.1296711

• Hayward, B. 2017 Sea Change Climate Politics in NZ BWB Wellington

• Salaea Damon, 2017 Island Time; New Zealand’s Pacific Futures BWB Wellington

• Hayward, B Rethinking resilience: reflections on the earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, 2010 and 2011 Ecology and Society 18(4): 37.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-05947-180437

• Harris, M 2016 The New Zealand Project BWB Wellington  

• Anderson, Atholl  and Judith Binney, Aroha Harris, 2016. Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History. Wellington: Bridget Williams Books

• Hayward, J. 2015 New Zealand Government and Politics. Sixth Edition Melbourne: Oxford

• Miller, R. K. 2015. Democracy in New Zealand  Auckland: Auckland University Press

• Salesa Damon 2017 Island Time New Zealand's Pacific Futures BWB Wellington

• Harris Max The New Zealand Project BWB Wellington

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,884.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All POLS442 Occurrences

  • POLS442-20S2 (C) Semester Two 2020