Advanced democracies face a range of policy challenges that need to be dealt with to ensure prosperity, sustainability, civic engagement and the effective operation of the political system. You will analyse the current policy challenges facing Britain, and explore what solutions might be implemented to address these challenges. This will involve considering a range of different pressure-points facing the country, which might include issues around territorial governance (eg. the integrity of the UK; the UK's place in the international system), complex policy issues (eg. environmental protection; economic fairness) and patterns of citizen behaviour (eg. levels of political engagement). For each pressure-point, you'll explore the nature of the policy challenge, identify potential policy solutions and assess the costs and benefits associated with these solutions. Through its coverage and assessment, the module enhances your ability to identify, analyse and solve complex policy problems.
Lecture 16, Workshop 16
Short Writing Piece. Assessment Details: 1,500 Words Policy Briefing worth 40%.
Group Project. Assessment Details: 4,000 Words/Group Project worth 60%.
Reassessment Method: Like for like
On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
1) Identify and critically evaluate some of the key policy problems facing Britain and other advanced industrial democracies.
2) Critically analyse the history of these policy problems, thereby achieving a systematic understanding of their causes and origins.
3) Identify and systematically evaluate – using a range of appropriate criteria - the consequences and implications of these problems, and thereby to appraise their extent and 'seriousness'.
4) Identify, systematically appraise and make independent judgments on the potential solutions to these problems, providing a detailed analysis of the potential costs and benefits of different policy solutions.
5) Critically assess – using a range of evidence and perspectives – the likelihood of different policy solutions being adopted within the British political system.
University of Kent makes every effort to ensure that module information is accurate for the relevant academic session and to provide educational services as described. However, courses, services and other matters may be subject to change. Please read our full disclaimer.
