Laura Chaqués Bonafont (University of Barcelona and IBEI)

Laura Chaqués Bonafont is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Barcelona and the director of the Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals (IBEI). She holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy from the Universitat de Barcelona and a Master's in Political Science from the New School of Social Research in New York. With an extensive academic background, she has served as a visiting professor at institutions such as the University of Washington, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and King's College London. She leads the research group "Quality of Democracy" (www.QDem.com), which analyzes the interplay between governmental, parliamentary, and media agendas from a comparative perspective. Her work bridges policy dynamics research with key areas of political science, including political representation, interest groups, and the quality of democracy in multilevel governance systems. The project has contributed to developing quantitative measurement tools for policy dynamics and offers numerous datasets accessible at www.q-dem.com. Her research has been recognized with various awards, including the Icrea Academia Award. Her primary research interest is the comparative analysis of agenda dynamics, specifically focusing on the roles of interest groups, political elites, and social media.

Course: Policy Analysis and the Role of Policy Actors: Governments, Private Actors, and Advisory Systems

This course explores how different actors engage in the process of policy analysis. It examines the traditional role of governments in policy formulation and evaluation at central, regional, and supranational levels, and contrasts this with the growing influence of private actors such as interest groups, think tanks, and political parties. The course also delves into the complexities of policy advisory systems (PAS), highlighting the interaction between public and private actors, the evolution of advisory systems, and their influence on policymaking in contemporary governance. Each session integrates theoretical lectures with applied activities, where students present their research or critically analyze selected readings.

By the end of the course, participants will:

• • • Understand how policy analysis is conducted by governments at different levels.
    • Analyze the influence of private actors, including interest groups, think tanks, and political parties, on policy processes.
    • Examine the structures, dynamics, and trends in policy advisory systems.
    • Evaluate the interplay between technical expertise, political considerations, and societal values in policymaking.
    • Critically assess case studies of policy analysis in diverse contexts.
    • Present research projects that integrate course concepts with practical case studies.