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School of Regulation and Global Governance · ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy
We live in a complex and uncertain world. In the 21st century, humanity faces challenges stemming from climate change, pandemics, rising inequality, and great power rivalry, which cannot be understood or managed from the perspective of a single discipline. Domains that were previously kept relatively separate (such as economics, security, health and the environment) are colliding. Governance regimes are multiplying, fragmenting, and overlapping in a bid to grapple with these challenges. This course considers approaches to governance in the face of complexity and uncertainty. It covers issues such as: what theories and tools can we use to better understand complex problems and systems dynamics? What frameworks can we develop to better understand and manage risks, opportunities and resilience across domains? How does incremental and transformative change happen in complex systems and what leverage points exist for interventions? The course uses contemporary examples, including COVID-19, the pushback against globalisation, and US-China tech/trade competition.
In class participation and electronic submission of two questions for each session a day prior to class
Learning outcomes 1, 2
Leading one in-class discussion including a 1500 word precis on relevant reading(s)
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4
Research and writing plan and outline for major essay - 1000 words
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4
Research essay (maximum 3000 words)
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4
This course requires 30 contact hours and 130 hours workload in total.
N/A Preliminary Reading Snowden, D. J., & Boone, M. E. (2017). A Leader’s Framework for Decision Making. Harvard Business Review. Welch IV, J. (2018). The Impact of Newell's "A Theory of Interdisciplinary Studies": Reflection and Analysis. Issues in interdisciplinary studies, 36(2), 193-211. Sterman, J. D. (2006). Learning from Evidence in a Complex World. American journal of public health, 96(3), 505-514. Roberts, A., & Lamp, N. (2021). Six Faces of Globalization: Who Wins, Who Loses, and Why It Matters, Ch 1 & Ch 15. Goldin, I., & Mariathasan, M. (2014). The Butterfly Defect: How Globalization Creates Systemic Risks, and What to Do about It, Ch 1. Buchanan, M. (2002). Ubiquity: Why Catastrophes Happen, Ch 1. Slaughter, A. M. (2017). The Chessboard and the Web: Strategies of Connection in a Networked World, Ch 4. Braithwaite, J. (2018). Cascades of Violence, Ch 1. Tetlock, P. E., & Gardner, D. (2016). Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction, Ch 5, 105-127. Syed, M. (2019). Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking (John Murray), Ch 1 & 2. Gai, P., Haldane, A., & Kapadia, S. (2011). Complexity, Concentration and Contagion. Journal of Monetary Economics, 58(5), 453-470. Farrell, H., & Newman, A. L. (2019). Weaponized interdependence: How global economic networks shape state coercion. International Security, 44(1), 42-79. Manyena, B., Machingura, F., & O'Keefe, P. (2019). Disaster Resilience Integrated Framework for Transformation (DRIFT): A new approach to theorising and operationalising resilience. World Development, 123, 104587. Green, D. (2016). How change happens, 7-27. Meadows, D. H. (1999). Leverage points: Places to intervene in a system. http://www.donellameadows.org/wp-content/userfiles/Leverage_Points.pdf Roberts, A., & St John, T. (2022). Complex Designers and Emergent Design: Reforming the Investment Treaty System. American Journal of International Law, 96