57114 Policy, Advocacy and Social Change
UTS: Communication: Social and Political ChangeCredit points: 8 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks
Handbook description
This subject is designed for advanced-level studies for students interested in the processes of politics and change. It focuses on the ways in which interventions can influence change in both policy and practice in governments and other institutions. It explores political processes both formal and informal, with an emphasis on the latter, in which policy decisions are made and implemented.
The interactions of all 'stakeholders', politicians, parties, lobbyists, community advocates and public servants are examined in the context of political theories on ideologies and power. This subject is designed to emphasise political theories and analysis of power and change as well as the status of current policies within those contexts. Students are expected to draw on current writings in the media and analysis of current issues and to use some classic readings.
Subject objectives/outcomes
At the completion of this subject, students are expected to be able to:
- develop analytical skills for exploring both policy and political problems and the development of solutions
- analyse the operations of power in and out of formal institutions and the ways in which political process might be influenced and changed by the influence and actions of stakeholders, community organisations and political activism
- develop skills in both critiquing and proposing policies. They will be able to offer explanations of broad policy directions and dominant paradigms, and develop proposals for particular policy changes, within an advocacy or activist framework
- develop useable proposals for policy development and/or change which recognise current practical and political constraints
- demonstrate basic advocacy and activist skills including competence in planning strategies for policy lobbying in the context of the stakeholders/players and potential barriers
- understand the broader theoretical debates on questions of power, ideologies, the role of the state and civil society and other factors which influence the capacity to make or change policies.
These will be demonstrated by capacities to design a submission for policy change with strategies for advocating the issues and ability to use theoretical perspectives to analyse the underpinnings of the institutions and beliefs that underpin such decisions.
Contribution to graduate profile
This subject gives students the opportunity to cover current Australian political issues in the context of possibilities of making changes. It has a particular appeal to those students currently in or intending to work with government, community groups or other politically related areas.
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject will be made up of a weekly one-hour lecture and two-hour tutorial. The tutorial will involve a variety of learning activities such as tutorial discussion on the nature of the policy process and exercises directed to develop students' skills and knowledge to implement and change policy and strategies of social action. In addition, and sometimes instead, post graduate students will meet with the lecturer, individually or as a group, to explore issues in greater depth. This will be arranged during class time.
The rest of the course is similar to that offered to undergraduates so consult their course outline until you come to the assignments where there are some changes in the first two that reflect the higher level of demands on your skills and thinking processes.
Content
This subject shares the undergraduate coursework which is designed to give students practical experience in the processes of proposing and achieving policy change, the structures of governance, the positions of stakeholders and the roles of advocates inside and outside formal structures. It focuses on uses of communication strategies and possible sources of information to be used in putting up a case for change. Students explore the processes of policy making through looking at both theoretical underpinnings and the practices of making changes: the role of politicians, parties, community, and the processes of lobbying as well as negotiation between power groups and intervention from the less powerful. It involves understanding the main and competing political ideologies and their proponents.
Developing advocacy strategies for change will assist students in understanding the broad policy directions and dominant paradigms and how to argue against these on behalf of groups not well served by them. This is an advanced-level subject, which requires a melding of theory and practice. Students read widely on current political issues and are expected to become problem solvers, to look for ways of changing policy and the roles of interest groups.
The subject examines the major changes, which have occurred over the last two decades in the role of the public sector, the market and community, as well as in the nuts and bolts of policy making from the point of view of liberal, conservative, social-democratic and radical approaches. The shifts in the concept of the role of government and the transformation of civil society have had major effects on policy frameworks and social movement and activists' practice.
In the practical component of this subject, students are expected to develop skills in critical analysis of public and social policies within and outside the current parameters of debate. This exercise should include analysing the current policy processes, identifying formal and informal key players, definition of power relations between them and the various documents and data needed to make a case for political and social change.
Assessment
Assessment item 1: Finding out what policies are in existence and who supports them
| Objective(s): | a, c |
| Weighting: | Presentation 5% and write up 10% |
| Task: | Pick a policy area either at federal or state level that interests you and is likely to involve different viewpoints amongst the major political groupings (Coalition, Labor, Democrats, Greens). Describe the main points in government policy and then summarise what differs and overlaps with other party policies. Look at whether there are also Are these policies supported or opposed by any external major interest groups in these areas and, if so, which ones? |
Assessment item 2: Policy discussions
| Objective(s): | a, c |
| Weighting: | Presentation 5% |
| Length: | 400 words |
| Task: | Students will prepare a short presentation for the class and hand in an extended and updated version of this, a week after the presentation, taking class and tutor comments into account. |
| Assessment criteria: | Demonstrated ability to:
|
Assessment item 3: Essay
| Objective(s): | a, b, c |
| Weighting: | 30% |
| Length: | 3000 words |
| Task: | Write an essay of maximum 3,000 words |
| Assessment criteria: | Demonstrated ability to:
|
Assessment item 4: Policy and advocacy strategy plus class presentation
| Objective(s): | a, b, c, d |
| Weighting: | 40% for the policy proposal and class presentation and 10% for the advocacy plan (please note these two parts need to be clearly identified as separate in the handed in material) |
| Task: | To develop a submission for policy change and an advocacy plan on how you would suggest the proposal be promoted so it is more likely to be accepted. |
| Assessment criteria: | Demonstrated ability to:
|
Minimum requirements
Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g. illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.
Indicative references
I have listed some useful ones but there are a lot of new materials emerging in this area all the time. You are expected to read widely and develop judgment on the value of what is available, particularly on the net. Most texts in this area are not written by practitioners and often put up presumed processes that are much too neat to be useful. So read widely, particularly the heavier news media for current issues, develop a clear sense of whose views can be trusted and why, and develop your skills in selecting the best material for the purposes you require.
Althaus C, Peter Bridgman & Glyn Davis (2007) The Australian Policy Handbook 4th Edition Sydney: Allen and Unwin
Colebatch H K (2002) Policy 2nd edition Buckingham: Open University Press
Colebatch H K (ed) (2006) Beyond the Policy Cycle: the policy process in Australia Sydney: Allen & Unwin
Dalton, T., Draper, M., Weeks, W. & Wiseman, J (1996) Making Social Policy in Australia: An Introduction Sydney: Allen and Unwin
Smyth, P & Bettina Cass eds. (1998) Contesting the Australian Way: States, Markets and Civil Society. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.
Yeatman, A. (ed) (1998) Activism and the Policy Process Sydney: Allen & Unwin
Further references
Brennan, D., 1994, The Politics of Australian Childcare: From Philanthropy to Feminism, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Drake, J., 'Why I organize', Social Policy, Fall 2001, p. 4
Edwards, L., 2002, How to argue with an economist, Reopening Political Debate in Australia, Cambridge Uni Press, UK
Fine, B, 2001, 'The expanding universe of Social Capital', Social Capital versus Social Theory: Political Economy and Social Science at the Turn of the Millennium, Routledge, London,
Hancock, L. 1999. Women, Public Policy and the State Melbourne: Macmillan
Patmore G and Glover D. eds 2000 New Voices for Social Democracy, Labor Essays 2001, Pluto Press Sydney
Neumann, Klaus, 2004 Refuge Australia: Australia's humanitarian record, UNSW, Sydney
Pocock Barbara, 2003, The Work/life Collision, Federation Press, Sydney
Race for the Headlines, racism and media discourses, 2003, Ant Discrimination Board NSW Sydney.
Saunders, P., 2005, The poverty wars' UNSW Press, Sydney.
Sawer M., & G. Zappala, 2001, Speaking for the People: Representation in Australian Politics Melbourne: Melbourne University Press
Wilson, S, Meagher, G, Gibson, R, Denemark, D and Western, M (eds) 2005 Australian Social Attitudes – the first report, University of New South Wales Press Limited
Winter, I ed, 2000 Social Capital and Social Policy, AIFS Melbourne
Policy sites for downloading relevant papers
The following websites are very useful sources for material which may be relevant to this course. As always, be selective and make sure that what you have found is useful and appropriate.
This is the Commonwealth Parliament site and has a wealth of material on how our system of government works, papers from the parliamentary library on a very wide range of issues, including policy briefings. The website has links to other government departments and state governments. It is very useful as an entry point to government documents. Most departments have lots of policy stuff on line
http://evatt.labor.net.au/publications/papers
This is a Labour/Left based organisation and has many papers up on its website which covers many of the issues raised in this course and offers some book chapters, lectures and other useful documents.
www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au
This is a NSW government website which supports its involvement in community capacity building. It has many resources aimed mainly at people working in the community.
This is a government-funded research centre with lots of useful information and some papers on line, particularly about families.
This is another funded research centre at UNSW, looking at issues of social policy with useful downloadable papers.
This is a very useful web service page out of Swinbourne University which posts up weekly lists and URLs for many actual papers from some of the organisations listed above and others as well. This also has lists of members' websites on its site so can be used as a general access point.
This has a weekly set of opinion articles and comments which are often quite revolting by readers. It's free and has a wide range of views represented often by people who rewrite for papers
www.hawkecentre.unisa.edu.au/institute/HawkePolicyWebsite
The Hawke Policy Website presents research undertaken at the University of South Australia that has implications for social and public policy. The Hawke Research Institute undertakes research and fosters debate on democratic participation, globalisation, equity and sustainable societies.
www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au/lawaccess.asp
This is a useful link for all things legal including human rights and discrimination issues.
This is an on line journal, usually left leaning but some interesting discussion issues and articles.
This presents free market, generally neo-liberal and conservative viewpoints but it is worth looking at for different points of view, including some by right wing ALP and the federal government.
This is further to the right than the CIS but somewhat influential with the Howard government.
