Course description

• Course content
• Learning outcome
• Teaching
• Examination

Course content

The study of bureaucracy is the study of politics. Political decisions affect 
bureaucracies, and decisions inside bureaucracies affect politics. Politicians depend 
on different types of bureaucracies ¨C ministries, agencies, local authorities ¨C to 
prepare and implement public policies. Sometimes politicians deliberately seek to 
influence bureaucratic organizations, their personnel, and their decisions to their 
favour. They influence bureaucratic decisions through selecting personnel or 
structural reorganization, or they design bureaucracies in way that makes it difficult 
to pin down responsibility when something goes wrong. They may also seek to 
delegitimize and deconstruct bureaucracies. Yet political decisions may also have 
inadvertent consequences for how bureaucracies work, such as when bureaucracies 
need to implement ever more policies.

A different sort of politics takes place inside bureaucratic organizations. They are not 
simply following political directions, but they pursue distinct institutional interests.
Like any other organization, bureaucracies strive for the continuous pursuit of their 
goals (¡°organizational survival¡±). This is much easier for organizations with a 
favourable reputation among relevant stakeholders such as politicians and interest 
groups. Policy bureaucracies such as ministries also influence political decisions
more directly. They bring distinct professional perspectives into the policymaking 
process. Moreover, coordination inside policy bureaucracies is characterized by 
conflict and compromise and has a crucial role in shaping policy proposals developed 
by policy bureaucracies.

This course introduces students to multiple middle-range theories about the 
interrelation between politics and administration. It covers theoretical approaches 
and empirical applications. The course features guest lectures from researchers at 
universities cooperating with the University of Oslo in the Circle U. university 
alliance.
 

Learning outcome

Knowledge

After completing this course, you will:

• Have a solid understanding of the complex interrelations of politics and bureaucracy
• Know about different theoretical explanations for bureaucratic behaviour
• Be familiar with different empirical approaches to study the politics of bureaucracy
   

Skills

After completing this course, you will:

• Have improved your academic writing skills
• Be able to identify and distinguish different types of political and bureaucratic behaviour
• Have improved their ability to critically evaluate academic texts

Competences

After completing this course, you will know how to:

• Synthesize and compare theoretical arguments
• Critically evaluate different types of empirical evidence
• Provide empirical examples of theoretical arguments

 

 

Teaching

Lectures

Compulsory activities

Response papers

• are to be handed in three times
• should be 800-1000 words of length
• should be a reflection of the readings of one lecture
• should apply theoretical insights to an empirical example

Students have to pass all the response papers to sit for the exam. All response papers have to be submitted in the same semester.

Examination

Term paper

• is due one week after the last lecture
• has a self-chosen topic that is approved by the lecturer
• should be 3500-4500 words of length
• can include literature not discussed in the course
• can include original empirical analysis
• must meet the formal requirements for submission of written assignments

Submit assignments in Inspera

You submit your assignment in the digital examination system Inspera. Read about how to submit your assignment.

Use of sources and citation

You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Explanations and appeals

• Explanation of grades and appeals

Resit an examination

• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Resitting an examination

Special examination arrangements

Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.