GV253-5-AU-CO:
Analysing Policy Discourse
2016/17
Government
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
15
25 February 2014
Requisites for this module
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Neoliberalism is often associated with a “laissez faire” attitude: neoliberals are standardly described as recommending a withdrawal of political power in favour of the free market. But this picture of neoliberalism is misleading: neoliberalism, in fact, sees a truly competitive market as an artificial construction, that must be brought into being through a systematic deployment of power.
This module examines neoliberalism as a way of exercising, rather than limiting, power. We will not look at neoliberalism as an economic theory, but as a specific way of governing and shaping society. We will consider the theoretical underpinnings of this kind of political intervention, and analyse the specific policies neoliberals advocate, focusing on strategic sectors such as higher education, healthcare, criminal justice and genetic governance.
From the methodological point of view, the module will examine neoliberal policy-making from the standpoint of discourse analysis: instead of seeing neoliberal theories as descriptions of independently given realities, and then seeing neoliberal policies as an application of those theories to reality, we will look at the entities postulated in these theories as constituted by discourse, and understand this discursive constitution as shaped from the very outset by certain governmental concerns.
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Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Essay |
|
70% |
| Practical |
Presentation |
|
30% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Matteo Falomi
Matteo Falomi mfalomi@essex.ac.uk
Module Administrator: Sallyann West, sawest@essex.ac.uk
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Dr Alistair Clark
The University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Senior Lecturer in Politics
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Government
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