Department of Political Science Simon Fraser University

POLITICS 451/851 - Public Policy Analysis

Professor Michael Howlett,
AQ 6049 291-3082,
email howlett@sfu.ca
Office Hours: Wednesday 11:30-12:20 (HC)

Class Time: Wednesday 1:30-4:20
Class Location: HC 1325

This course describes and evaluates the work of policy analysts in modern liberal-democratic governments. It sets out the origins of the 'policy analysis movement' in the 1960s in the United States and traces the diffusion and evolution of the idea of policy analysis throughout the world over the next 50 years. Within this comparative context, the course explores the current state of policy analysis in Canadian governments and non-governmental organizations, detailing the techniques of, and capacities for, policy analysis found in each. The merits and demerits of the recent tendency for analysis to shift from 'modern' to 'post-modern' analytical techniques, along with those of the most recent 'evidence-based' policy movement, are discussed and the implications of these different orientations for the training and recruitment of policy analysts, and the impact of their work, are set out. The course highlights the tensions which now exist between traditional policy analysis concerned with 'speaking truth to power' and that focused on the struggle to 'make sense together'.

Course Related Material:
POL-451 Course Syllabus
Course Related Links:
pol451-d100@sfu.ca class maillist
pol851-g100@sfu.ca class maillist

Return to the Course Information page.
Return to the Political Science homepage.

Professor Michael Howlett, AQ 6049 291-3082, email howlett@sfu.ca Office Hours: Wednesday 11:30-12:20 (HC) Class Time: Wednesday 1:30-4:20 Class Location: HC 1325
This course describes and evaluates the work of policy analysts in modern liberal-democratic governments. It sets out the origins of the 'policy analysis movement' in the 1960s in the United States and traces the diffusion and evolution of the idea of policy analysis throughout the world over the next 50 years. Within this comparative context, the course explores the current state of policy analysis in Canadian governments and non-governmental organizations, detailing the techniques of, and capacities for, policy analysis found in each. The merits and demerits of the recent tendency for analysis to shift from 'modern' to 'post-modern' analytical techniques, along with those of the most recent 'evidence-based' policy movement, are discussed and the implications of these different orientations for the training and recruitment of policy analysts, and the impact of their work, are set out. The course highlights the tensions which now exist between traditional policy analysis concerned with 'speaking truth to power' and that focused on the struggle to 'make sense together'.
Course Related Material: POL-451 Course Syllabus Course Related Links: pol451-d100@sfu.ca class maillist pol851-g100@sfu.ca class maillist
Return to the Course Information page. Return to the Political Science homepage.