This module introduces you to different kinds of governance and governance reforms. It discusses how to assess the quality of governance. You will learn about different theoretical conceptions of governance and theoretical approaches to study governance, including rational choice and collective choice, new institutionalism, policy networks, and policy instruments.

This module focuses on state capacity and the state’s role in economic development. It examines various state forms, including the developmental state, predatory, regulatory, and corporatist state. Finally, you will examine the relationship between forms of state and types of democracy to understand democracy as a political practice for enhancing development.

In this module, you will learn about the importance of law for public policy following the discussion on state and governance. It begins with explaining why policies must conform to constitutional provisions and need the backing of law for enforcement. Further, it explains the rationale for separating powers between the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. Finally, it elaborates on the centrality of the Rule of Law in constitutional democracies.

This module discusses the liberal utilitarian idea of justice. You will analyze alternative nonutilitarian ideas of justice proposed by John Rawls and Michael Sandel, followed by Amartya Sen’s attempt to revive a utilitarian conception of justice. It further discusses the legal systems in constitutional democracies based on justice. Finally, it examines how judicial review empowers the superior courts to interpret laws to do complete justice.

In this module, you will learn about the issues and problems that the state takes up and addresses through policy, the role that law plays in enforcing policies, and how law serves as an instrument of political power. The module explains the policy cycle by first identifying a problem or issue and then evaluating the policy chosen to address it, leading to policy modification. You will also examine how power plays a role in bringing some items into the policy agenda, keeping other things out, and persuading people to think about adversity as a virtue.

This module deals with the global impacts on national and local governance. You will learn how norms and provisions in international treaties shape national policies and laws. You will analyze why it is no longer possible for sovereign states to make policies independently of requirements of international institutions such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization and commitments given to the United Nations to realize the Sustainable Development Goals. You will also learn why national policies must focus on the imperatives of globalization.

This module describes the learning objectives, project brief, review criteria, grading criteria, and submission instructions for the Staff Graded Individual Assignment for the course.