Current Issues in Public Policy - JSM703

• Title: Current Issues in Public Policy
• Guaranteed by: Department of Public and Social Policy (23-KVSP)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2024
• Semester: winter
• E-Credits: 4
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:1/0, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: 15 / unknown (20)
• Min. number of students: 8
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Additional information: https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=5152
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: prof. PhDr. Arnošt Veselý, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): prof. PhDr. Arnošt Veselý, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students

Annotation

This year, the course will address some of the current issues of public policy raised by the continuing war in Ukraine and political developments in the United States. The course will also consider the importance of truth, freedom of speech, and regulation of the internet. The focus will be on exploring public policy issues in a broader political context.
Moodle:
https://dl1.cuni.cz/enrol/instances.php?id=5152
Password: 2025

Last update: Veselý Arnošt, prof. PhDr., Ph.D. (12.09.2025)

Literature

Snyder, Timothy. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York: Tim Duggan Books. (2017), published in both English and Czech

● Other suggested readings will be available in Moodle

Last update: Veselý Arnošt, prof. PhDr., Ph.D. (12.09.2025)

Requirements to the exam

For passing the course it is necessary to fulfill all requirements formulated below, i.e., class participation and final paper.

 

Class participation

- Students are required to attend in person all 3 classes and be prepared to participate in class discussions and exercises.

 

Final essay

-         At the end of the course, a student is required to write a short paper in which he/she will choose an issue of public policy, argue both sides, and make a conclusion.

-         The approximate length of the paper is 5 double spaced pages, in English.

-         Deadline for the paper is December 17, 2025.

-         The final paper must be uploaded via Moodle.

 

Use of Generative AI Tools in This Course

In this course, students are expected to write a final argumentative essay on a contemporary topic of their choice. The essay must present and evaluate arguments for and against the chosen position and reflect the complexity of the issue. Given the increasing availability of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude), the following rules apply to their use:

1. Permitted Uses of AI

You may use generative AI tools, with disclosure:

• to check spelling and grammar correctness (in English), but it should not rephrase your work or introduce vocabulary that you would not otherwise use;
• as a support tool for understanding key terms or general background.

AI can be used as an aid, but it should not replace your own intellectual work!

2. Prohibited Uses of AI

You must not use AI to:

• generate ideas or explore potential essay topics; the point of this assignment is to explore and research a topic which you are passionate about;
• structure or brainstorm your arguments and counterarguments; you should look for “both sides” on your own;
• generate any part of the essay and claim it as your own work;
• violate academic integrity, bypassing your responsibility to think and write independently.

Such behavior may be considered plagiarism or academic misconduct and will be addressed in line with Charles University’s academic regulations.

3. Transparency Requirement

If you use generative AI in any stage of writing your essay, you must:

• include a brief note at the end of your essay (e.g., in a footnote or final paragraph), stating:
  “I used generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) for the following purposes: [...]. All ideas, writing, and arguments presented are my own.”
• be prepared to defend your essay orally if requested, including all arguments and sources, without the aid of AI.

4. Further Guidance

• Recommendations regarding the use of generative artificial intelligence at Charles University: https://ai.cuni.cz/AIEN-13.html
• Methodological Guidelines on Generative AI (FSV UK, June 2024, in Czech only):
  https://fsv.cuni.cz/sites/default/files/uploads/files/FSV%20-%20metodika%20ke%20generativn%C3%AD%20AI.pdf

Violation of these rules may result in the essay not being accepted or in disciplinary proceedings under Charles University’s regulations.

  Grading 

The final essays will be graded A-F according to the following criteria:

-         Structure, organization, and internal coherence of the essay

-         Insight into the topic, originality, and use of evidence

-         Clarity of arguments 

-         Formal aspects (ie. references with page citations)

Citations should reference the page and chapter of the cited text. Yes, I know that is more work! The style of citation does not matter, so long as it is consistent.

 

 

 

Last update: Veselý Arnošt, prof. PhDr., Ph.D. (12.09.2025)

Syllabus

Schedule: Week of 20-24 October 2025, Jinonice

 

Day		Time	Room
Tuesday	October 21, 2025	17.00-19.50	B103B
Wednesday	October 22, 2025	15.30-18.20	B103B
Friday	October 24, 2025	11.00 -13.50	C220

1. Global Conflicts: The War in Ukraine

○       History

○       State of the War

○       Global Effects

1. Global Conflicts: Israel-Palestine

○       History

○       State of the War

○       Free Speech Preview

1. America, Democracy, and Trump

○       Constitutional Crisis

1. Truth and Free Speech

○       Free Speech

○       What is Truth?

○       Artificial Intelligence

1. Climate Change

○       Global Developments

○       Various Perspectives

1. Threats of Autocracy and Tyranny

○       Class Discussion

1. Finale: Joan Baez and Václav Havel

 

Last update: Veselý Arnošt, prof. PhDr., Ph.D. (12.09.2025)