Democratic Governance in the Nordic Welfare State

SAM5015

The course will consider the influences and stakeholders that shape the development of policy and in particular the evolution of the Nordic welfare state. In particular it will explore the changing relationship between citizen's and the state and the challenges and opportunities that involvement, co-creation and co-production bring for reforming policy the welfare state and public services.

The course provides an overview of various theories of public policy and public governance. The aim is to enable students to understand and analyze the content of reform processes, the role of different stakeholders including citizens and the voluntary sector. The course will explore basic features of the Nordic welfare state model and consider how the evolution of the public sector reveals tensions and dilemmas between political and administrative leadership and broader stakeholders in the public sector. In particular we consider the potential for active citizenship and mechanisms to promote co-creation and co-production. Finally, we consider the dark side of public involvement and the impact of vested interests in shaping policy and how these affect efficiency, democracy and accountability.

Students must either be enrolled in Master in Social Analysis (part time), or apply for the course as a single course student/exchange student.

Single course students must meet the following entry requirements:

Bachelor degree of 3 years' duration (180 ECTS).
The applicant must have passed exams of at least 80 ECTS credits in social sciences. The grade requirement is C on a weighted average.

The student who has completed the course should have the following learning outcomes:

The student:

Knowledge

Has advanced knowledge of the role of public reforms in the Nordic welfare democracies
Has acquired knowledge on various theories of public governance and is able to discuss the challenges they present for handling change and for the management of public institutions.
Has knowledge of debates in public involvement, co-production and co-creation in relation to policy and welfare
Has knowledge of trends and principal debates in relation to public policy, steering practices and leadership.
Is able to identify and use the knowledge to analyze and reflect on challenges pertaining to public policy, including the dilemmas and tensions between administrative and political leadership.

Skills:

The student

Is able to identify different theories of public governance, and can use the theories to analyze the content, process and outcome of public policy, including large-scale reform programmes in the Nordic welfare states.
Is able to critically reflect on new forms of public governance, including collaborative governance, and to evaluate their impact according to criteria such as efficiency, steering and democratic participation.
Is able to assess and analyze empirical data, which draw attention to the effects of reforms on democracy and their potential implications for the content and future of the Nordic welfares state model.
Is able to conduct independent analysis and present written assignments on the issues mentioned above.

General competence:

The student

can apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the course to address, reflect and discuss relevant issues independently.
can communicate the knowledge to relevant stakeholders, users and the general public
can reflect on potential challenges for the Nordic Welfare states model based on the content and outcome of different reforms in the public sector

In addition to the semester fee and costs for purchasing course literature, the students are expected to have a laptop.

Theoretical subject.

Elective subject for students enrolled in Master in Social Analysis (part time).

Teaching will be given in blocks.

Required coursework.

*The course is taught provided that a sufficient number of students register for it.

The study program is evaluated annually by the students through course evaluations and study program evaluation. These evaluations are included as part of the university's quality assurance system.

The following must be approved to pass the course:

Required coursework: Students complete one individual required coursework of 3 pages. Assessed as approved/not approved.

Assignment: Individual assignment. Maximum 10 pages. Graded A-F.