Business/Government Relations
The Art of Politics

CD19 Syllabus                                                                        Course Structure Index
Professor John Bennet

Goals

 The goal of this module is to introduce students to the politics surrounding key political issues.  Various strategic, tactical, decision-making, and communications approaches to the art of politics will be covered.  By examining actual issues, the course will demonstrate how to support or oppose proposed aims of different constituencies or from different vantage points in government, business, or the public interest.  Issues management will be addressed.

The primary focus on but not be limited to discussion as follows:

Representing the business community.
Working an issue in government.
Organizing and representing the public interest.

The topics open for discussion will include: recognizing new issues; life cycle of political issues; benefits and costs review; the Wilson matrix; decision making systems; lobbying; grassroots strategies; coalition building; political entrepreneurship; electoral strategies; judicial actions; issues management; the role of inside and outside information in the legislature, use of media, and interest group influence on the policy process.

 Required Reading

 D. Baron, Business and its Environment, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1995. Chapter 3 (pp. 55-80), Chapter 8 (pp. 199-218).

N. Peery, Business, Government and Society, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1995.  Chapter 3 (pp. 49-72).

M. Wiedenbaum, Business and Government in the Global Marketplace, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1995.  Chapter 16 (pp. 370-392).

Multinationals and the U.S. Technology Base, pp. 1-47.

Other handouts in class.

 Supplemental Reading

 Barron, David, Business and its Environment, 2^nd edition (Prentice-Hall, 1996).

Wiedenbaum, Murray, Business and Government in the Global Marketplace, 5^th edition (Prentice-Hall, 1995).

 Course Requirements

Each class member will choose one of the two following options:

1.      Completion of a research paper related to class subject and approved by the instructor.  Students will meet with this instructor for a minimum of three sessions during the period of this module.  To exercise this option, students must schedule the first meeting with the instructor before the end of the first week of classes.  Length, subject, and due date will be determined in consultation with the instructor.

2.      Completion of take-home exam based on required reading materials and classroom discussions. The take-home exam will consist of several essay questions.