Theories of governance - JSM790

This graduate course introduces students to the concept of public governance. Although there is no widely accepted definition of governance, we posit to bring forth various considerations from theoretical and practical literature in order to have an in-depth understanding of the concept with considerations to its various dimensions. The aim of this course is to represent governance in a less abstract manner through theories that can be applied theoretically or practically to analyse issues of public policy. In this sense, classical approaches and new perspectives (such as the Evolutionary Governance theory – EGT) will be explored.  Furthermore, the course aims to identify the core issues and the main dynamics around public governance. This will be done by defining the concept of governance in public administration and explaining key theories, both classical and modern, all while engaging students in critical thinking and interactive discussions on the concept. This will be done through the study of scholarly literature specified in advance.