Regional Policies and Administration
Code: 104259 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2503710 Geography, Environmental Management and Spatial Planning | OB | 3 |
Contact
- Name:
- Maria Asuncion Blanco Romero
- Email:
- asuncion.blanco@uab.cat
Teachers
- Inmaculada Diaz Soria
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
Non specifically, just have a general idea of what is happening today. In other words, have a bit of a general background and minimally follow the news.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The objective of the course is to offer students an introduction and basic knowledge about the relations between politics and institutions, on the one hand, and territory, on the other.
The objectives of the subject consist of knowing the basic elements that make up local governments: normative principles, structures, actors and policy agenda to achieve the ability to analyze the reality of local government with a critical and well-founded vision, especially in Catalonia, but studying cases from Spain as a whole and from other countries of the European Union. It will try to propose and analyze future alternatives based on current debates.
The subject is closely related to "Urban policies: housing, neighborhoods and mobility". The knowledge and skills acquired are considered essential for the training and future professional performance of students. Hence, it has the character of a compulsory subject.
It is also an objective of this subject to know the regulations on plagiarism and copyright, in addition to knowing how to use different sources of information and cite correctly.
Learning Outcomes
- CM30 (Competence) Convey information in a clear, explanatory and concise manner, applying the argumentative procedures of formal discourse in written work or oral presentations on introductory aspects of political science.
- KM46 (Knowledge) Describe the main concepts of the relations between politics and society in Spain and Catalonia within the field of study.
- KM47 (Knowledge) Define the basic elements that make up local governments: regulatory principles, structures, actors and policy agenda.
- KM48 (Knowledge) List the main features of the territorial organisation of public administration, with special reference to Spain and Catalonia.
- SM42 (Skill) Analyse the functioning of political institutions at different levels of administration.
- SM43 (Skill) Use the scientific and professional language of the social sciences.
Content
Topic 1. Politics, power and territory
- The question of power
- Relational definition of power
- The forms of power: economic, ideological, political
- Politics as a form of power
Topic 2. The question of the State
- Approaches to the study of the State
- The State as an organization of political power
- State functions
- State, civil society and economic power
- The State, groups and social actors
Topic 3. Multi-level government. The territorial organization of the State
- The organization of the European Union
- The territorial organization of the State
- Local authorities in Catalonia
- Organization and operation of local entities
Topic 4. Organización de los gobiernos locales en Cataluña
- Organization of local governments in Catalonia. Provinces, counties and veguerias
- Organization of local governments in Catalonia. Municipalities
- Organization of local governments in Catalonia. Metropolitan Area and Charter of BCN Barcelona
Topic 5. Local resources and financing
- Local tax and transfer system
- The local Treasury in Catalonia
- The municipal budget
Topic 6. Electoral systems
- Electoral systems in Europe
- Electoral systems of local entities in Catalonia
Topic 7. Governance and social cohesion
- Design and provision of public services
- Local government models: from government to governance
- Social cohesion
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Public presentation of a paper | 7 | 0.28 | CM30, KM46, KM48, SM43 |
| Seminars for the discussion of texts and cases (class participation) | 10 | 0.4 | CM30, SM43 |
| Theoretical lectures | 31 | 1.24 | CM30, KM46, KM47, KM48 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Preparation of activities | 20 | 0.8 | |
| Tutorial: individual and group tutorials for support for the accomplishment of the work and monitoring of the work done in the subject. | 5 | 0.2 | CM30, KM48 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Comprehensive individual reading of texts. | 22 | 0.88 | KM46, KM47, SM42 |
| Elaboration of the course paper and the seminar papers. | 20 | 0.8 | CM30, KM47 |
| Library course | 3 | 0.12 | |
| Study of theoretical contents. | 30 | 1.2 | KM47, KM48, SM42 |
Guided activities: face-to-face sessions to explain the syllabus and for the revision in the classroom of the exercises carried out throughout the course.
Supervised activities: review of the exercises proposed as an evaluation tool and that will be available in the virtual platform of the subject.
Autonomous activities: everything that should be done on behalf of students in preparation for the subject. It includes the consultation of diverse material (articles, reports, etc.) available in the virtual platform of the subject, as well as specialized bibliography, both the most general and the one that incidentally is quoted. The teacher does not follow any manual, despite the existence of several excellent ones in the market. Any suitable material may be used, such as newspaper articles, press magazines, etc.
To pass this subject, you must complete the module of the UAB library service's training course on plagiarism and copyright. This course also includes a review of information sources and APA citations.
In this topic, a sexist use of language will not be allowed in students' oral and written contributions.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Seminar papers about readings and cases | 30% | 0 | 0 | KM46, KM47, SM42 |
| Course topic preparation | 15% | 0 | 0 | CM30, KM46, KM47, KM48, SM42, SM43 |
| Final exam | 40% | 2 | 0.08 | CM30, KM46, KM47, KM48, SM42, SM43 |
| Oral presentation course topic (class participation) | 15% | 0 | 0 | CM30, SM43 |
This subject incorporate single assessment system that is explained at the end of this section.
The continuous evaluation of this subject is made up of the following evaluation activities:
- Final exam: 40% of the final grade.
- 2 Small seminar reports on readings and cases (in groups of 3-4 people): 30% of the final grade. In the first task, to obtain the mark, it will be necessary to include the certificate of the LIBRARY TRAINING MODULE, which will be reported at the beginning of the course. The application of the learning of this course will be one of the evaluation criteria for this activity.
- Preparation of one of the topics of the course (in groups of 3-4 people): 15%
- Oral presentation of the topic studied: 15%
The practical activities have an optional character (but they cannot be recovered if they have not been submitted).
Requirements for evaluation (1st call):
To obtain a minimum grade of 5 in the written test, in order to average with the other parts of the assessment. In case of not fulfilling this requirement, this note cannot be compensated with another and it will be submitted to the recovery process.
There is no obligation of a minimum score in the practical activities and the one obtained will be added to the others for the final grade of the subject. This means that they cannot be done, with the risk, however, that after the rest of the notes are not enough to pass the subject. Keep in mind that the optionality of the practices has a "price": they will be delivered within the established period (to be announced at the beginning of the course) and when it has finished they will not be admitted (except in the case of students accepted for single assessment).
Requirements for recovery:
Failure to complete the written test will mean that the student must submit to the recovery. That is, in spite of the "mathematical" possibility that the student passes having delivered the practices and attended all the classroom sessions, it will not be so without such proof.
In case that the minimum grade required in the written test is not obtained, the affected person will need to submit to therecovery. The rest of the notes will be saved for the final grade.
As for the practical activities, only the recovery (or improvement ofgrade) of one will be accepted, as long as it has been deliveredwithin the established term throughout the semester (except in the case of students accepted for single assessment). That is to say, in the case of practices, re-evaluation does not imply being able to deliver one that has not been done before.
On the other hand, no other "alternative" evaluation mechanism is foreseen (presentation of a paper, reading reviews, etc.).
The oral presentation cannot be re-evaluated or recovered.
According to UAB regulations, in order to participate in the recovery process, a minimum grade in the average of the subject must have been obtained. This rating will equal or exceed 3.5. (These conditions are adapted to the regulations on the evaluation of the UAB in Article 112. The recovery http://www.uab.cat/doc/Modificacio_normativa_academica_CG120717).
Consideration of "Not Evaluable"
Students will obtain a Not assessed/Not submitted course grade unless they have submitted more than 1/3 of the assessment items.
Plagiarism
In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject. Let's remember thata "copy" is considered a work that reproduces all or most of the work of one orthe other company / a. "Plagiarism" is the fact of presenting all or part of a text of an author as its own, withoutmentioning the sources, be on paper or in digital format. See UAB documentation on "plagiarism" at: http://wuster.uab.es/web_argumenta_obert/unit_20/sot_2_01.html.
Procedure for Reviewing Grades Awarded
On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.
SINGLE ASSESSMENT
The single assessment does not imply any change in relation to the teaching model nor is it related to face-to-face, students can continue attending class as usual. Assumes a single assessment date but not a single assessment activity.
Thus, those students who have requested the single evaluation system within the established period (September 18 to October 6) will have to take the following individual evaluation:
- Final exam (40% of the final mark). To be done on the same day and time as the rest of the group. The date will be reported in the program for the beginning of the course.
- 2 practices on readings and cases (30% of the final mark). In the first practice, to obtain the mark, it will be necessary to include the certificate of completion of the LIBRARY TRAINING MODULE, which will be reported at the beginning of the course. These practices will be delivered the same day as the written exam. The practical activities are optional (but they cannot be recovered if they have not been presented, read the explanations above).
- Preparation of one of the topics of the course proposed at the beginning of the course following the same indications of the continuous evaluation (15%). The delivery of the written document will be the same day of the examby the means established.
- Oral presentation of the topic worked on (15%) in video format, of aduration equivalent to the class presentation of the rest of the students (approx. 5 minutes).
As in the continuous evaluation, the conditions to be able to be re-evaluated, explained in the general part of this section, will be maintained.
Bibliography
This subject does not follow any specific manual. The bibliography will be specified during the course, through Moodle, according to topics and social and editorial news.
Basic bibliographical references:
Baños, Pedro. (2017). Así se domina el mundo. Desvelando las claves del poder mundial. Ariel Editorial
Bobbio, Norberto. (1985). Estado, Gobierno y sociedad. Por una teoría general de la política. CAP.
Fernández Durán, Ramón & González Reyes, Luis. (2018). En la espiral de la energía. Libros en Acción. Ecologistas en Acción. https://www.ecologistasenaccion.org/wp-content/uploads/adjuntos-spip/pdf/en-la-espiral-de-la-energia_vol-1.pdf
Méndez, Ricardo. (2011). El orden geopolítico durante el periodo de Guerra Fría, capítol 1 en El nuevo mapa geopolítico del mundo. Tirant Lo Blanch
Vallès, Jose M. & Martí i Puig, Salvador. (2020). Ciencia política. Un manual. Ariel Editorial
Complementary bibliographical references:
Bertrana, Xavier (2014). Els Governs locals de l’Europa Occidental: una aproximació tipològica. Treballs de la Societat Catalana de Geografia, [en línia] p. 125-41, https://raco.cat/index.php/TreballsSCGeografia/article/view/289364
Blanco, Ismael & Gomà, Ricard. (2002). Gobiernos locales y redes participativas. Barcelona: Ariel.
Blanco, Ismael & Gomà, Ricard. (2016). El municipalisme del bé comú. Barcelona: Icària.
Blanco, Ismael & Gomà, Ricard. , Subirats, J. (2018). "El nuevo municipalismo. Derecho a la ciudad y comunes urbanos", Gestión y Análisis de Políticas Públicas, 20: 14-28.
Blanco, Ismael & Nel·lo, Oriol. (Eds.) (2018). Barrios y Crisis. Crisis económica, segregación urbana e innovación social en Cataluña. València: Ed. Tirant.
Blanco, Ismael; Salazar, Yunailis & Bianchi, Iolanda. (2019). "Urban governance and political change under a radical left government. The case of Barcelona", Journal of Urban Affairs. Published online.
Blasco Julià, Jaume (2009). Guia pràctica 1 – Com iniciar una avaluació: oportunitat, viabilitat i preguntes d’avaluació. Institut Català d’Avaluació de Polítiques pübliques, 44p.
Brugué, Joaquim & Gomà, Ricard. (Coord.) (1998). Gobiernos Locales y Políticas Públicas. Barcelona: Ariel. pp. 15-35.
Brugué, Joaquim & Vallès, Josep M. (2005). "New-Style Councils, New-Style Councillors: From Local Government to Local Governance"; Governance: An International Journal of Policy, Administration and Institutions , Vol. 18, No.2, pp. 197-226. (Versió en castellà també disponible).
Carroué, Laurant & Boissière, Aurélie. (2018). Atlas de la mondialisation. Une seule Terre, des mondes. Edit. Autrement
Chandler, Jim. (2010). "A Rationale for Local Government"; Local Government Studies, 36:1, pp. 5-20.
Del Pino, Eloísa & Rubio, María Josefa. (Coord.) (2013). Los Estados del Bienestar en la encrucijada. Políticas sociales en perspectiva comparada. Madrid: Tecnos. Cap. 1.
DIPUTACIÓ DE BARCELONA (2018). Suport per a l’elaboració del catàleg de serveis municipals. Servei d’assistència a l’organització municipal, 23p. https://www.diba.cat/documents/192458/228032110/1a_sessio_Cataleg_de_Serveis_curs+2018.pdf/d9e6c318-16c4-49c3-b416-32f7c0da9d52
Donat, Carles. (2017) "Els set reptes dels nous plans i polítiques localsd'habitatge", a DDAA, Repensar la metropoli: noves claus per a un projecte col·lectiu. Barcelona: IERMB-AMB.
Flint, C. & Taylor, P.J. (2018). Political Geography. World-economy, natio-state and locality. Seventh edition. Routledge.
Generalitat de Catalunya (2016). El Sector públic local a Catalunya. http://economia.gencat.cat/web/.content/70_corporacions_locals/arxius/Informe-sector-public-local-2016.pdf
Observatorio Metropolitano (2014). La apuesta municipalista. La democracia empieza por lo cercano. Madrid: Traficantes de sueños. Cap. 3.
Ubasart, Gemma & Bonet, Jordi. (2010). Guia de Govern Local. Barcelona: Icaria Editorial, Biblioteca derecursos veïnals. Disponible a: http://auditoriabdn.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/guia-de-govern-local-catalc3a0.pdf
Wollmann, Hellmut. (2004). "Local Government Reforms in Great Britain, Sweden, Germany and France: Between. Multi-Function and Single-Purpose Organisations"; Local Government Studies, Vol.30, No.4, pp. 639-665.
DECRET LEGISLATIU 2/2003, de 28 d'abril, pel qual s'aprova el Text refós de la Llei municipal i de règim local de Catalunya (2021).
Software
None in particular except the usual office tools and Teams in case of online connections.
Language list
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | Catalan/Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan/Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |