coursemapLoading course
Crawford School of Public Policy · ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy
On-campus & online learning available. Students participate in interactive, real-time classes. 2026 class dates: Feb 20, 27; Mar 6, 13, 20, 27. This course explores how different publics engage in aspects of public policy. Taught through six intensive interactive seminars, students consider diverse practices of participatory governance as well as the politics that community consultation and citizen engagement can generate. Seminars explore questions such as: What does meaningful citizen participation in public policy look like in an era of 24/7 news cycles and social media? How do citizens themselves seek to voice their concerns and exert influence on the policy process? What happens when their interests are mis-represented, misunderstood or ignored? Practical attempts at participatory policy making and citizen-led governance are examined and critiqued.?Through applied examples and case studies, students reflect on how democratic ideals, such as inclusion, participation, representation and legitimacy may be realised in contemporary governance.
Quiz
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 4, 5
Participatory Design Pitch (group mark) (class presentation)
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 5
Design Reflection Paper (individual mark), 1200 words (not including refs)
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Case Study (individual mark), 2000 words (not including refs)
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 4, 5
The standard workload for a 6 unit course is 130 hours including class time and independent study.
None. Please see Wattle site for list of readings. Preliminary Reading Fung, A. (2006). Democratizing the Policy Process. The Oxford Handbook of Public Policy. M. Moran, M. Rein and R. E. Goodin. Oxford, Oxford University Press.: 669-685. Nabatchi, T., J. Gastil, G. M. Weiksner and M. Leighninger, Eds. (2012). Democracy in Motion: Evaluating the Practice and Impact of Deliberative Civic Engagement. New York, Oxford University Press. Hendriks, C. M., & Dzur, A. W. (2022). Citizens’ governance spaces: democratic action through disruptive collective problem-solving. Political Studies, 70(3), 680-700. Stewart, J. (2009). The Dilemmas of Engagement: the role of consultation in governance. Canberra, Australia and New Zealand School of Government and ANU E-Press.