PST 295-01 - Special Topic: Unlocking Policy Neglect: Comparative Agenda Setting

4 credits (Spring)

Why are global challenges like climate change, human rights abuses, and economic inequality not treated with the same urgency as other issues by policymakers? This course examines how policy agendas are set in the public, the media, and ultimately in important decision-making institutions as well as why some problems face challenges in making it onto the policy agenda. The course will be taught from Leiden University College in the form of a small, online personal course. In that setting, Grinnell students will interact with peers from LUC, a liberal arts college in The Hague with strengths in interdisciplinary policy approaches. The course will be sponsored by Grinnell College professor Bill Ferguson and will meet Fridays and one other hour weekly to be arranged.

This class includes course-embedded travel during the first week of Spring Break to Leiden University in the Netherlands, with a possibility of optional extension into the second week. Students will engage in dialogue on course materials and research projects with their Leiden University peers and with Professor Zicha. They will also conduct a few visits to local organizations that work in related policy areas. Participation is required.

Prerequisite: Third-year standing and ECN 220 , POL 220 , or PST 220 and MAT 209 . Recommended: POL 255 , POL 257 , POL 258 , POL 261 , POL 262 , POL 273 , or POL 295 (Politics of the Middle East or Intro to South Asian Politics).
Instructor: Staff