Summary of content

This module conjoins political and journalistic perspectives to provide an essential understanding of the context, processes and policy outcomes of multi-level governance in the United Kingdom. In terms of context, students will be equipped, as journalists, with a critical understanding of the structural and institutional landscape of government at the supranational (European Union) national (Westminster/Whitehall) sub-national (devolved assemblies and executives) and, local authority levels. As part of this, the increasing relevance of quasi and non-governmental organisations to today's public sector is explored, as is the form and functions of the National Health Service. Students are also introduced to the core political and policy processes operating 'within' each level of governance. In this sense, empirical and conceptual analyses of constitutions, elections, systems of accountability and inter-institutional relations will be complimented by reviews of policy formulation and legislative, financial and economic processes. Finally, the implementation and outcomes of specific policies and public sector services will be contextualised and evaluated across the various levels of governance, ranging through, for example, European regional development projects, UK immigration and asylum policy, devolved education policy and local authority housing and social services.

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Assessment methods