GCPA 616 - Ethical Issues in Public Policy Decisions and Implementation

3 Credit(s)

Description:
This course will examine the impact of ethical, cultural, and moral principles and theories in policymaking and implementation. We will apply these principles to existing issues and dilemmas in domestic and international policy, studying these dilemmas from a variety of perspectives. The first portion of the course will examine the foundational theories of ethics, morality, and culture in public policymaking. We will also address the foundational theories of religion and culture as they pertain to the use of power in political and governmental leadership. Many of the common themes in ethics debates such as equality, fairness, justice, basic human rights, paternalism and protection, the redistribution of resources, the question of legal vs. ethical laws, and civil disobedience will be addressed. We will engage in critical analysis and persuasive reasoning primarily through the use and study of case studies, as well as current events in the local, national, and international spheres, visual media and role-playing during the semester.

038798:1