This course introduces class participants to the political significance and societal consequences of challenges facing U.S. and international policymakers. It is designed to help participants develop skills to analyze policy proposals and advocate for their preferred options for issues on the public policy agenda ahead. The class assumes basic knowledge about governing institutions and democratic processes, while recommending supplemental materials for further study to complement reading links provided. The course focuses on future policy challenges, while examining the broad historical context in which policies are adopted and implemented. As the course evaluates how issues are advanced by private sector interests, non-governmental organizations, and government policymakers, it examines how groups become effective policy advocates. Particular attention is paid to how winning coalitions are formed and how issue framing shapes the outcome of policy campaigns. The goal is neither to produce partisan talking points, nor to favor one governance philosophy over others. Rather it is to clarify the public policy challenges ahead and to enhance participants’ understanding of how policy options are adopted in the real world arena of contemporary politics.
Public Policy Challenges in the 21st Century Introduction
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Public Policy Challenges of the 21st Century
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Course Roadmap
Professor Warburg and his UVa graduate teaching assistants outline the approach of the course and highlight upcoming topics and speakers.
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- Professor Gerry WarburgProfessor of Public Policy, Assistant Dean for External Affairs
Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
Early in the 19th Century,
a retired President sat on a Virginia mountain top nearby, imagining the future.
Thomas Jefferson was our greatest American,
because he was both a Renaissance man and a futurist.
His vision for the nation's first great public university,
was that this should be in a egalitarian training ground.
The whole premise was that here,
in the heart of the Virginia countryside, was where America's future leaders,
would be prepared for public policy challenges ahead.
That is why Mr. Jefferson founded the University of Virginia.
And it is why the university has created the FRANK BATTEN SCHOOL of LEADERSHIP and
PUBLIC POLICY.
It is also why, we have created this new experimental course, for
those interested in public affairs.
>> I love that Mr. Jefferson, took his passion for Greek and Roman traditions,
and combined it with his knowledge of European affairs and governance, and
took those concepts to press students to anticipate the future and
prepare to leave.
>> Teaching leadership was and is a revolutionary idea.
A lot of people ask me, how can you teach leadership in a classroom?
>> We really need to past this nature, versus nurture debate of
whether leaders are born that way, or taught that in a later life.
We really need to focus on how Mr. Jefferson and
the Batten school view leadership as a subtle science.
>> You can teach leadership skills, you know, it all boils down to cultivating
the knowledge, experience and tools necessary to advance the public interest.
>> You know, as we say in Batten, policies everywhere lead from anywhere.
The skills you learn here, are applicable in private sector, as an NGO leader.
>> Or in the government sector.
>> Right. >> Mr Jefferson, you know, really believed
that a strong civic engaged society came from all sectors and all individuals.
>> That's what this undergraduate course is all about.
To prepare these students, to be agents of change.
To understand the policy history of the recent past, and
to be able to confront the challenges of the near future.
>> Personally, being a graduate teaching assistant for this course is exciting.
because it was the class,
as an undergraduate, that convinced me to pursue a career in public service.
>> I think a really key element of success for this class, is the course design.
Being able to survey a broad amount of government institutions,
really allows students to find ways to test proposed solutions, and
then also see which options have a chance of winning and being successful.
>> We'll learn about a dozen specific issues that we know,
are going to grow in importance, from climate change and
balanced budgets, to education and healthcare.
Throughout the course, we'll look at interest group pressures, advocacy skills,
and the importance of both timing, and compromise in politics.
>> So today we launch an exploration of the public policy challenges,
of the 21st Century.
>> For those you joining us bis this Coursera MOOC,
we will break the semester length course, into nine digestible weekly sessions.
>> This is the gateway course, here at the Batten School, for
all undergraduates interested in public policy and leadership.
>> This course will expose students, to the process by
which public policy decisions are made specifically in Washington however,
it's applications are broad and universal.
Whether you're applying your knowledge to your home in Jakarta, or
Brussels, or Beijing, or within your local town council, you can lead from anywhere.
>> Our goal is to take you directly into our classroom, here in Garrett Hall,
in Charlottesville, Virginia.
We want you to feel, for a time, what it is like to be a Batten School student.
We want to stimulate your thinking about public policy, and
the role it plays in our future.
>> The course opens with an examination of the U.S.
Intelligence Community's, Global Trends 2030 exercise.
It's based on the briefing,
that senior CIA officials gave in this room to Batten students.
Like the GT2030 study, we'll work together to consider what the public policy agenda,
is likely to feature 15 years from now.
>> After learning about the scope of the issues, we'll hear from national thought
leaders on how policy advocates might address these critical challenge.
What tools are available, to policy advocates from the business community,
labor, NGOs, and the various branches of government?
What skills will I need to develop?
>> The VIP speakers are definitely my favorite part of the course,
these speakers bring diverse perspectives from all political persuasions,
about how policy advocates might achieve consensus.
We are so fortunate to have Democratic and
Republican members of Congress here in our classroom, defining points of consensus,
and discussing how to work together and function, instead of partisan politics.
>> It is remarkable, these politicians include U.S.
Senator Tim Kaine, who leads a discussion with students here in our classroom,
about how we should reform the process of making war and peace decisions.
He focuses mainly on his bipartisan bill,
with Senator John McCain, on reforming the War Powers Resolution.
>> We explore the art of navigating the political system as well,
with a briefing from former White House Press Secretary Dede Myers,
explaining the art of issue framing.
>> And to enrich the entire experience, we also welcome national thought leaders,
on issues as diverse as the future of U.S. China relations, to reforming health care.
This part of the course is kind of Battens' greatest hits.
We'll get to hear from policy practitioners,
who can help us synthesize lessons learned from recent policy history.
>> We are a new school,
situated at the heart of an institution steeped in Jeffersonian traditions.
But while Thomas Jefferson was a founder of our republic, and creator of our
university, he was also an experimenter, deeply suspicious of the status quo.
He knew that young countries, would have to adapt to change, and
grow with the times.
So, it is appropriate that the class you are helping launch today,
is also an experiment.
We are learning with you, and
exploring different ways of imparting insights about public policy.
>> For the next several weeks, we'll examine some of the key issues,
certain to dominate the modern policy agenda.
War and peace, job creation and economic growth, healthcare and education.
>> Your course syllabus offers a road map, discussion questions, and
suggested readings.
As well as quizzes, a final exam, and
an opportunity to secure a certificate of completion.
>> Most importantly, your syllabus is an open invitation.
Join us in the classroom, feel what it's like to be a Batten School student at UVA,
for an hour or a day.
Engage in the great policy debates of our time, imagine the future.
>> Our overarching goal in this course is to inspire each of you students to engage.
We hope you'll engage, in the debates over public policies in your community, and
to equip yourself to face the challenges of the century ahead.
We appreciate your participation and feedback, and
we look forward to your engagement, over the weeks ahead.
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