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55730-01 - Seminar: Transformations of the State – Changing Roles and Practices of State Governing in Changing Societies (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2019 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Basil Bornemann (basil.bornemann@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Despite frequent associations with continuity and stability, both the idea of statehood and the manifestation of states are subject to constant processes of change, which are driven by diverse social, political, economic, technological and cultural developments. While the earlier formula “from government to governance” implied a general relativization or marginalization of the role of the state, it is now generally acknowledged that states are still important governance actors. However, as part of complex and dynamic governance arrangements in which they work together with social, economic and political actors at different levels to solve common problems, they are subject to ongoing transformations. Being more fundamental and far-reaching than “simple” processes of policy change, these state transformations relate to profound changes in the functions, structures and relationships, as well as governing roles and practices of states towards society and the wider international community. For example, states are developing new ways of (meta-)governing complex governance networks, and change their own internal organization and functioning to prepare for their new roles of network moderators. These state transformations, in turn, directly or indirectly affect social, political, economic, technological and cultural developments. With a focus on roles and practices of state governance, the proposed seminar examines what happens when states transform: How can contemporary transformations of states be described, explained and evaluated? And how are changing roles and practices of state governing intertwined with changing societies? In order to address these questions, the seminar provides theoretical and methodological foundations for the investigation of the transformation of contemporary states in view of changing societies. In addition, case-related and comparative empirical knowledge will be acquired on how and with what consequences Western liberal states change their internal and external governance roles and practices in relation to ongoing societal changes, such as individualization, value change, sustainable development or digitization. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|
No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Modul Kernbereich Gesellschaftswissenschaftliche Nachhaltigkeitsforschung (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development (Start of studies before 01.08.2017)) Modul: Fields: Governance and Politics (Master's degree program: African Studies) Modul: Research Lab Kulturanthropologie (Master's degree subject: Cultural Anthropology) Modul: Vertiefung Politikwissenschaft M.A. (Master's degree subject: Political Science) Module: Core Competences in Social Sciences (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development) Module: Resources and Sustainability (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources) Vertiefungsmodul Global Europe: Staatlichkeit, Entwicklung und Globalisierung (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Departement Gesellschaftswissenschaften |