COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST - POLI 341: ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL POLITICAL THOUGHT

                                                                  

                                                                     DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

  SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

                                                   COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES

                                                 FIRST SEMESTER, 2016/2017

                                 COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST

                          LECTURERS: Alex K.D. Frempong & Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh

                                            EMAILS: akdfrempong@ug.edu.gh & aggreydarkoh@ug.edu.gh,

COURSE OUTLINE AND READINGS

COURSE TITLE	ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL POLITICAL THOUGHT
COURSE CODE	POLI 341
CREDITS	3
PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES	Political theory is the study of political ideas and values like justice, power and democracy that we use to describe, understand and assess political practices and institutions. The course introduces students to the historical tradition of political theory as they relate to contemporary political theory. Specifically, the course provides a historical and analytical study of political thought among the Ancient Greeks, the Roman Empire and within the established church- the Holy Catholic Church up to the Reformation. It ends with the rise of the modern nation-state with Machiavelli as the prime thinker. At the end of the course, students should have critical understanding of the main texts and ideas of classical and medieval political theory, and the controversies surrounding them. Though some historical context is provided, this is not a course in history, but in political theory.
	DATE	LECTURE TOPIC	TUTORIALS	VENUE	ASSESSMENT
1	A-22/8/2016 B-24/8/2016	General Overview		JQB 14
2	A-29/8/2016 B-31/8/2016	The Nature and Scope of Political Theory		JQB 14
3	A-05/9/2016 B-07/9/2016	Greek Political Institutions		JQB 14
4	A-12/9/2016 B-14/9/2016	Plato		JQB 14
5	A-19/9/2016 B-21/9/2016	Plato		JQB 14 JQB 14
6	A-26/9/2016 B-28/9/2016	Aristotle		JQB 14
7	A-03/10/2016 B-05/10/2016	Aristotle		JQB 14	Interim Assessment (30%)
8	A-10/10/2016 B-12/10/2016	Cicero		JQB 14
9	A-17/10/2016 B-19/10/2016	St. Augustine		JQB 14
10	A-24/10/2016 B-26/10/2016	St. Augustine		JQB 14
11	A-07/11/2016 B-09/11/2016	St. Aquinas		JQB 14
12	A-14/11/2016 B-16/11/2016	Machiavelli		JQB 14
13	A-21/11/2016 B-23/11/2016	Machiavelli		JQB 14
14	REVISION
15-17	EXAMINATION (70%)

COURSE READINGS

J.S McClelland, A History of Western Political Thought, (London: Routledge, 2002)

           

George H. Sabine, A History of Political Theory, 4^th edition, (New Delhi: Oxford& IBN Publishing Co.PVT Ltd., 1973)

Mitchell Cohen and Nicole Fermon (eds.), Princeton readings in political Thought: Essential Text since Plato, (New Jersey: Princeton University press 1996)

Prangobinda Das, History of Political Thought, (Calcutta: Central, 2001)

Thucydides, History of Peloponnesian war, Translated by Rex Warner, (New York: Penguin Books Ltd, 1972), Book II, sections 33-66, Books III, sections 36-50, 69-85; Book V, sections 48-116)

Plato, The Republic, A New Translation Robin Waterfield,(New York: Oxford University Press, 1993)

McDonald L. Cameron, Western Political Thought, Part 1 Ancient and Medieval, (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc., 1968)

Forsters M.B, Masters of Political Thought Plato to Machiavelli, (New York: the Riverside Press 1941)

Aristotle, The Politics, Translated by T. A Sinclair, (London Penguin Books, 1962)

Aristotle, The Politics, Translated by Lord Carnes, (Chicago:  The Chicago University Press, 1984)

Aquinas: Selected Political Writings, edited with Introduction by A.P D’ entreves, (Oxford Basil Blackwell Publishers Ltd, 1959)

Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince, Translated by George Bull, (New York: Penguin Books, 2003

John Plamenatz, Man and Society, (New York: Longman Group Ltd., 1963)

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1.      There will be thirteen weeks of lectures. Full participation in the lectures is a prerequisite for admission into the final examinations.

2.      Each student must attend tutorials each week to be organized by tutorial assistants. Students are advised to effectively participate in the discussions. It must be emphasized that tutorials are not second lectures.

3.      Most of the reading materials exist in the Department of Political Science Library and the Balme Library. Some of the core readings are available in the General Office of the Department of the Political Science, University of Ghana. 

4.      It is imperative for students to read the literature much more intently in order to identify the hidden truths (read with understanding).

5.       There will be mid-term and final examinations. The distribution of the marks is as follows:

 Mid-term Assessment = 30%

 Final Examination       = 70%

 Total                           =100% 

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST - POLI 359: PUBLIC POLICY MAKING

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

POLI 359: PUBLIC POLICY MAKING

FIRST SEMESTER, 2016/2017

VENUE: E 9

TIME: 3.30pm -5.30pm

LECTURER: DR ABDULAI KUYINI MOHAMMED

Course Title	Public Policy Making
Course Code	POLI 359
Course Description	The course examines the initiation, development and implementation as well as the evaluation of public policy. The course is designed to enable participants understand the basic concepts, models, approach, methods and theories of public policy making. It draws out some of the connections and disjunctions between the theory and practice of public policy making. This is necessary because academic interpretations (theoretical explanations) of what policy makers do and even what they say they do and what policy makers actually do may differ. Selected examples of public policies and programs in Ghana (such as the STX Housing Deal, The 2010 Constitution Review Process, Decentralization, and National Health Insurance Scheme) and elsewhere will be used to provide a better understanding of the link (or lack thereof) between the theory and practice of public policy making.
Purpose and objectives	The course will help students to develop a critical perspective on public policy making by encouraging them to challenge the received wisdom and prescribed solutions presented by many policy science scholars and commentators. Students will acquire knowledge and insights through lectures, discussions and the textbooks as well as the assigned reading material. They will then be able to apply this knowledge to specific real world public policy phenomena. Upon completion of the course students should be able to: Explain the conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of public policy Explain the key elements of the public policy process Articulate insights gained from the study of public policy making in Ghana and other jurisdictions Compare and contrast approaches to public policy making in different countries Establish the link between the theory and practice of public policy making Identify the challenges to effective public policy making and implementation in Ghana and elsewhere Suggest ways to overcome the challenges to effective public policy making and implementation in Ghana and other Sub-Saharan African countries
Week No.	Date	Lecture Course	Tutorials	Venue	Assessment
1	Aug. 26,  2016	Nature & scope of  public policy making		Lecture: E 9
2	Sept. 2, 2016	Public Policy Process	Distinguish between public policy & politics; Public policy & Law; and Public policy and program	Lecture: E 9
3	Sept. 9, 2016	Public Policy process	Compare the tasks of actors at the agenda setting stage to those at the formulation stage	Lecture: E 9
4	Sept. 16, 2016	Models of the Policy Process	Assess the usefulness of the policy cycle in practice	Lecture: E 9
5	Sept. 23, 2016	Models of the Policy Process	What is the import of the multiple stream model of agenda setting?	Lecture: E 9
6	Sept. 30, 2016	Models of the Policy process	Examine the strengths and weaknesses of the advocacy coalition framework	Lecture: E 9	Interim Assessment (30%); 3.30 pm
7	Oct.7, 2016	Policy Environment	Do you agree that environmental forces facilitating to policy making?	Lecture: E 9
8	Oct. 14, 2016	Actors and Institutions	Discuss Etzion’s classification of policy instruments	Lecture: E 9
9	Oct. 21, 2016	Policy Instruments	Policy instrument classification is an exercise in futility. Discuss	Lecture: E 9 Tutorial:
10	Oct. 28, 2016	Policy Instruments	Do you agree that the legislature has more influence than the executive in policy making/	Lecture: E 9
11	Nov. 4, 2016	Policy Success & Policy Failure	Assess the criteria used in evaluating policy success and failure	Lecture: E 9
12	Nov.11, 2016	Policy Change & Policy Termination	Examine the conditions under which public policy should be terminated	Lecture: E 9
13	Nov. 18, 2016	Policy Learning	To what extent do policy makers learn from the successes and failures of past policies in Ghana?	Lecture: E 9
14		Revision	Revision
15		Revision	Revision
Exam (70%)

Reading List

Anderson, J. E. (2006), Public policy making, 6^th edition, Wadsworth Cenage Learning, Belmont, USA

Bridgman, P. and Davis, G. (2004), The Australian policy handbook, 3^rd edition, Allen and Unwin, Crows Nest, NSW

Howlett, M. and Ramesh, M. (2003), Studying public policy: policy cycles and policy subsystems. Oxford University Press, Oxford

Maddison, S. and Denniss, R. (2009), An introduction to Australian public policy. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

McConnell, A. (2010), ‘Policy success, policy failure and grey areas in-between’, Journal of Public Policy 30 (3): 345-362

Mohammed, A. K. (2013), ‘Civic engagement in public policy making in Ghana: fad or reality?’, Politics and Policy 41 (1): 117-152

Mohammed, A. K. (2015), ‘Ghana’s policy making: from elitism and exclusion to participation and inclusion? International Public Management Review 16 (1): 1-24

Simon, R (1976). ‘Studying public policy’, Canadian Journal of Political Science 9 (4): 548-580

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST - POLI 459: DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

POLI 459: DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

FIRST SEMESTER, 2016/2017

DAY: Wednesday

VENUE: Central Cafeteria

            TIME: 7.30 am - 9.30 am

LECTURER: DR ABDULAI KUYINI MOHAMMED

Course Title	DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
Course Code	POLI 459
Course Description	Decentralization and local governance are crucial elements for success in development processes and in order to ensure that democratic political systems function correctly. Local and regional governments need to be able to rely on strong leadership abilities when it comes to these processes. This course highlights the crosscutting nature of decentralization by offering modules focused on macro, sectoral and governance issues. The course begins with an overview of the global experience and a framework for decentralization, examining the fiscal, political and administrative aspects of decentralization, expenditure and revenue assignment, and the design of intergovernmental relations and transfers. It also focuses on creating understanding of the significance of local government and the basic dynamics of the local government system. It provides the parameters for the study of any individual system and comparison among various local government systems. It also illuminates the direct and indirect roles of formal institutions of local government hierarchies, as well as the roles of informal norms, networks, community organizations, and neighbourhood associations in pursuing collective action by defining the framework for citizen-citizen and state-citizen interactions, collective decision making, and delivery of local public services. Finally, it examines recent thinking about decentralization and its impact on the good governance project, and participatory and inclusive local development.
Purpose and objectives	The course provides students with an understanding of government and decentralization models that underpin the roles and responsibilities which local governments are mandated to carry out. It enables them to appreciate the efficiency and effectiveness (or otherwise) with which local authorities execute that mandate to improve living conditions at the local level. It also helps them to understand the different conditions under which local government decisions must be made. In addition, it enables students to use a rational approach in the evaluation of decentralization reforms in Ghana and other jurisdictions. The course is a fundamental field of study for any student who is interested in public affairs and the role of local government in socio-economic development. At the end of this course student should be able to: Analyze the institutional contexts of decentralization with a specific focus on local development, gender and power relations; compare and contrast decentralized projects across jurisdictions and draw lessons from success and failure stories to inform decentralization policy reforms; Develop strategies to improve the involvement of different actors in local governance, natural resource management, and local economic development; understand the rationale behind common local public programs, the considerations for designing policies, and the potential problems in local public decision-making process; understand the intricacies in inter-governmental relations and propose measures to democratize central-local relations.
Week No.	Date	Lecture Course	Tutorials	Venue	Assessment
1	Aug. 24,  2016	Conceptualizing Local Government and Local Governance	Distinguish between local government and local governance	Lecture: CC
2	Aug. 31, 2016	Perspectives on Local governance and Central-Local Relations	Examine the conceptual perspectives that underpin central government-local government relations	Lecture: CC Tutorial:
3	Sept.7, 2016	Models of Government and Roles and Responsibilities of Local Government	Assess the models of government and their associated local government responsibilities	Lecture: CC Tutorial:
4	Sept. 14, 2016	Nature and Scope of Decentralization	Discuss the components of decentralization reforms	Lecture: CC Tutorial:
5	Sept. 28, 2016	Approaches to Decentralization	Evaluate the effectiveness of the approaches to decentralization	Lecture: CC
6	Oct. 5, 2016	Decentralization in Comparative Perspective	Compare and contrast the decentralization project in Ghana to that of Uganda	Lecture: CC
7-9	Oct. 12, 2016 Oct.19,  2016 Oct. 26, 2016	Decentralization and Local Government in Ghana	Discuss the nature, functions and operations of Ghana’s District Assemblies	Lecture: CC	Interim Assessment  (30%); 7.30 am
10-11	Nov. 2, 2016 Nov. 9, 2016	Chieftaincy and Local Government in Ghana	Discuss the role of chiefs in local Government in Ghana	Lecture: CC Tutorial:
12-13	Nov.  16, 2016 Nov. 23, 2016	Local Government Financing in Ghana – Source of Revenue, Budget, uses and constraints	Appraise fiscal decentralization in Ghana	Lecture: CC Tutorial:
	Exam: 70%

*CC = Central Cafeteria

READING LIST

Awortwi, N. (2010), ‘The past, present and future of Decentralization in Africa: a comparative case study of local government development trajectories of Ghana and Uganda’. International Journal of Public Administration 33: 620-634

Ayee, J. R. A (1999), Decentralization and Conflict: The case of District Chief Executives and Members of Parliament in Ghana Accra: Friedrich Ebert Foundation

Boafo-Arthur,  K.  (2003), ‘Chieftaincy in Ghana: The Challenges and Prospects in the 21^st Century’, Africa and Asian Studies, 2, (2): 1-16.

Debrah, E.  (2014), ‘The Politics of Decentralization in Ghana’s Fourth Republic’. African Studies Review, 57 (1) (April): 49-69.

Debrah, E. ‘Assessing the quality of accountability in Ghana’s district assemblies, 1993 – 2008’ African Journal of Political Science and International Relations 3 (6), pp. 278-287, June, 2009

 Mohammed, A. K. (2014), ‘An Assessment of the Impact of Local Government Fragmentation in Ghana’, Public Organization Review 14 (4) DOI 10.1007/s11115-014-02

Mohammed, A. K. (2015), ‘The Politics of Municipal Fragmentation in Ghana’, Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance 16:

Ndegwa, S. N. (2002), Decentralization in Africa: a stochtaking survey. Africa Region working paper series No. 40, November

Philip Mawhood (ed.) Local Government in the Third World: The Experience of Decentralization in Tropical Africa, African Institute of South Africa, 1993