Politics of Public Policy
Understanding Policy Implementation as a Political Process
About This Course
This course examines policy implementation as a political process shaped by power, institutions, organized interests, and social groups. It explores how states build capacity and deliver policies, how bureaucracies perform, how citizens experience government, and how those experiences feed back into politics and public policy.
A central theme is decision-making. We analyze how politicians, bureaucrats, and citizens make political choices in light of their institutional environments, objectives, information, incentives, and constraints.
Because research on the politics of public policy is interdisciplinary, we read both foundational and cutting-edge work from political science, economics, sociology, public law, and public administration.
Course Versions
| Semester | Version | Status | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | Doctoral Seminar | Upcoming | — |
| Spring 2026 | Honors Seminar (PLCY 220H) | Current | 20 students |
Instructor
- Email: jaekim@unc.edu
- Office Hours: By appointment