Course Syllabus

SPCN-V 538
 Comparative & International Policy Process

This page provides highlights from the course syllabus for public reference. Updated 08/04/2026

Course Information

Instructor Information

  • Instructor: Shelly S. Mc’Lean Bent
  • Class Meetings: 100% Online. Optional meeting sessions.
  • Class Location: Online
  • Attendance: Students are expected to monitor Canvas daily for announcements and contact the instructor when questions arise. 

Course Description

This seminar provides a comparative and international overview of public policy and the policymaking process. Students explore how policies are designed, implemented, and evaluated across different political, cultural, and economic contexts, including the United States, non-US countries, and transition economies. The course introduces major theoretical frameworks for understanding policymaking and examines each stage of the policy process, challenging the generalizability of the existing theoretical approaches when applied to different contexts and policy areas. It also analyzes how international and non-governmental organizations influence global policy agendas, the dynamics of policy transfer, and the challenges of governance across various issue areas and regions.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

  1. Identify and describe the main theoretical frameworks used to understand how policies are made.
  2. Compare and discuss the key factors that influence the policy process and policy outcomes in both U.S. and non-U.S. democracies.
  3. Analyze how cultural, institutional, political, and economic contexts shape policy processes and outcomes in different countries.
  4. Evaluate the advantages and challenges of policy transfer and explain how international organizations contribute to this process.
  5. Examine the roles of intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and international law in shaping global policymaking.
  6. Compare how systems of international governance vary across different policy areas.
  7. Identify a real-world policy problem, present your analysis, and recommend a global governance strategy to address it.

Textbook

Suggested Textbooks

All required readings will be available on Canvas. 

  • McCormick, J., Hague, R., & Harrop, M. (2019). Comparative government and politics: an introduction. Bloomsbury Publishing.
  • Dodds, A. (2018). Comparative public policy. Bloomsbury Publishing.
  • Muers, S. (2020). Culture and Values at the Heart of Policy Making. Policy Press: University of Bristol. 

Additional journal articles and book chapters are part of the reading assignments. All readings will be provided by the instructor on Canvas. If you have problems in accessing any of the readings through Canvas, they should be available through the library’s electronic access. 

 

Technical Requirements

You will need the following in order to participate in this course:

Hardware:

  • Laptop or desktop computer
  • Latest web browser versions (Mozilla Firefox is recommended for Canvas)
  • Reliable internet access (preferably DSL or faster)
  • Microphone
  • Webcam

Software (latest version):

  • Adobe Reader
  • Microsoft Office

Download these programs directly at IUware Online. Log in with your IU username and passphrase. Not all software is available online. If you need a program on a DVD, you can purchase discs through all campus bookstores.

 

Technical Support

You may also receive support from:

The full syllabus with all necessary information (e.g., policies, assignments, daily topics) is available under the modules page in the Canvas course.