Undergraduate Course: The Politics of British Public Services (PLIT10067)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Social and Political Science |
College |
College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
20 |
| Home subject area |
Politics |
Other subject area |
Social Policy |
| Course website |
None
|
Taught in Gaelic? |
No |
| Course description |
This course will consider recent developments in British public services to understand the political forces behind the changing nature of the way services are being organised and managed to promote a culture of enterprise rather than sustaining traditional notions of a welfare state. Attention will be paid to the views and definitions of the different stakeholders, including service users, citizens, trades unions, professionals, managers, and Government. Topics will include issues of marketisation, such as privatisation, competition, consumerism and payment by results, as well as broader themes around the management and measurement of resource efficiency (including the role of the Treasury), effectiveness, equity and citizenship. The contexts chosen will primarily be health services, social care services and education, although others may be used for illustration. Recent developments by the 'New' Labour Government in its modernisation agenda will be contrasted with 'old' Labour and previous Conservative Governments. |
Entry Requirements
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites |
|
| Prohibited Combinations |
|
Other requirements |
None
|
| Additional Costs |
None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites |
Visiting students should have at least 3 Social Policy or closely related courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Students should be able, by the end of the course:
(i) To understand the changes and differences that have occurred in the delivery of public services in Britain over the last few decades
(ii) To develop a critical awareness of the politics and rationale behind the New Labour modernisation agenda
(iii) To understand how the welfare state has been transformed through various policy instruments within specific public services as well as through the Treasury
(iv) To identify and understand the different perspectives and interests of the various stakeholders.
|
Assessment Information
| Seminar Presentation 10%, Essay 40% and Examination 50% |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords |
Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Mr Richard Parry
Tel: (0131 6)50 3918
Email: Richard.Parry@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Miss Susan Orr
Tel: (0131 6)50 4253
Email: Susan.Orr@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage