STV4422 ¨C The Politics of Bureaucracy

Course content

The study of bureaucracy is the study of politics. Political decisions affect?bureaucracies, and decisions inside bureaucracies affect politics. Politicians depend?on different types of bureaucracies - ministries, agencies, local authorities - to?prepare and implement public policies. Sometimes politicians deliberately seek to?influence bureaucratic organizations, their personnel, and their decisions to their?favour. They influence bureaucratic decisions through selecting personnel or?structural reorganization, or they design bureaucracies in way that makes it difficult?to pin down responsibility when something goes wrong. They may also seek to?delegitimize and deconstruct bureaucracies. Yet political decisions may also have?inadvertent consequences for how bureaucracies work, such as when bureaucracies?need to implement ever more policies.

A different sort of politics takes place inside bureaucratic organizations. They are not?simply following political directions, but they pursue distinct institutional interests. Like any other organization, bureaucracies strive for the continuous pursuit of their?goals ("organizational survival"). This is much easier for organizations with a?favourable reputation among relevant stakeholders such as politicians and interest?groups. Policy bureaucracies such as ministries also influence political decisions more directly. They bring distinct professional perspectives into the policymaking?process. Moreover, coordination inside policy bureaucracies is characterized by?conflict and compromise and has a crucial role in shaping policy proposals developed?by policy bureaucracies.

This course introduces students to multiple middle-range theories about the?interrelation between politics and administration. It covers theoretical approaches?and empirical applications. The course features guest lectures from researchers at?universities cooperating with the University of Oslo in the Circle U. university?alliance. Please note that this course is offered simultaneously as an online-only course for students from Circle U. partner universities, and lectures will be streamed.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

After completing this course, you will:

• Have a solid understanding of the complex interrelations of politics and bureaucracy
• Know about different theoretical explanations for bureaucratic behaviour
• Be familiar with different empirical approaches to study the politics of bureaucracy

Skills

After completing this course, you will:

• Have improved your academic writing skills
• Be able to identify and distinguish different types of political and bureaucratic behaviour
• Have improved your ability to critically evaluate academic texts

Competences

After completing this course, you will know how to:

• Synthesize and compare theoretical arguments
• Critically evaluate different types of empirical evidence
• Provide empirical examples of theoretical arguments

Teaching

10 lectures

Compulsory activity:

Written assignment

• The paper should be between 2000 and 2500 words (references excluded)
• It must have a topic reflecting the course readings and curriculum, but the student chooses the final topic
• The final topic must be discussed with and approved by the course coordinator
• The term paper is submitted before the seminar session
• The term paper is presented in the seminar session
• The term paper must meet the formal requirements for the submission of written assignments.

In the event of illness or other valid reasons, you can apply for a valid absence or postponement of compulsory activity.

Apply for valid absence from or need for postponement of compulsory activity

Examination

3 hour school exam.?

Students have to pass the term paper to sit for the exam

The examination text is given in English. You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.