This is a core course restricted to Ford School students only. Registration is by permission only.
The primary objective of this core course in the MPP curriculum is to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed for effective political analysis of public policy issues and decisions. The course covers conceptual and analytic frameworks for understanding political processes, institutions, stakeholders, contexts and policy decision making. In addition, the course builds written and verbal communication skills, emphasizing the ability to convey clear and concise political analyses in a variety of formats, including policy memos.
In this section of 510, students will analyze the politics that affect foreign policy choices and the policies adopted by international organizations. We will examine the U.S. foreign policy process and compare it to that of other political systems. We also will analyze the politics of the United Nations and some of its key specialized agencies including the World Bank, Human Rights Council, and UN Environment Program. We will consider the dynamics of regional organizations such as the European Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. We will apply this conceptual understanding to a series of complex real-world policy challenges, such as the humanitarian crisis in Syria, migration from Central America, economic development and environmental concerns in Africa, and maritime rivalry in the South China Sea.