Politics and Policy

Who should study Politics and Policy?

Deakin's Politics and Policy courses are particularly suited to:

• Managers and officers in local government who deal with:
  • Issues of governance
  • Public-private partnerships
  • Community relations

Students explore how local governments deal with the broader policy network, thereby gaining greater insight into the complex arrangements in which local governments function.

• Managers and analysts in Non Government Organisations (NGOs) and business related sectors who deal with governments through advocacy, lobbying, partnerships, contracts and other funding arrangements.

Deakin's courses focus on ‘horizontal governance’, networks, between the different levels of government, and between government, the private sector and the community. By contrast, public policy courses have traditionally focused on vertical governance in the public sector (public management).

• Those interested in understanding policy networks in state governments that deal with local government, regional and community development and business relations.

These networks are more about relationships with agencies and people outside the organisation than internal management processes. Accordingly the units are designed to give people a greater understanding of issues of politics and policy in the broader networks.