Vernardakis Christoforos

The aim of the course is to acquaint students with the mechanisms of state action from the perspectives of public policy and public administration analysis.
Τhe course is divided into two parts.
The first part is devoted to public policy analysis. More precisely, the main theoretical approaches of the formulation, implementation, evaluation and change of public policies at supranational, national and subnational level, are examined. Emphasis is placed on the analysis of neo-institutionalist approaches (rational choice, historical, sociological, discursive), as well as on the discussion of the impact of globalization and Europeanisation. Subsequently, the course focuses on the study of public policy in Greece; accordingly, the main views and assumptions of the relevant literature on Greece are presented and a number of case studies are discussed.
The second part focuses on the study of public administration and management from the viewpoint of organizational theory. Specifically, the historical evolution of the science of management is discussed and the main functions of administration and management as well as human resources management in the public sector are presented. In this context, the analysis focuses on: a) the presentation of certain key concepts (programming, organizing, directing, controlling, decision-making, assessment, health and safety, employment relations), b) the importance of employee motivation and c) the role of leadership.

Course modules

1.Public policy as a political process – main concepts and theories
2.The neo-institutionalist approach of public policy
3.Exogenous factors: globalization and Europeanisation
4.The Europeanisation of public policy in Greece
5.A neo-institutionalist analysis of public policies in Greece
6.The historical evolution of management
7.Contemporary approaches of management – functions of management
8.Human resources management in the public sector
9.Motivation and teamwork
10.The role of leadership

Upon successful completion of the course, studens will:
-aquire a comperhensive view of the methodological problems and dilemmas accompanying public policy formulation and implementation
-recognise and assess the thematic and political linkages underpinning the actions of public actors in a globalized environment and in the context of the European Union
– be able to follow and/ or evaluate specific public policies and/or actions in a consistent and theoretically informed manner