An article examined the rise of vulnerability-led policy-making, and why the official rhetoric of promoting resilience frequently gave way to an orientation towards an emphasis on vulnerability. The existing conceptualization of resilience assumed that vulnerability was the defining condition of social life. One likely consequence of this approach was the reinforcement of the passive side of public life.
Source: Frank Furedi, 'Fear and security: a vulnerability-led policy response', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 42 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Dec
A report said that well-planned social campaigns could have a 'fundamental and long-lasting impact', including in circumstances where campaigning was the only effective course of action available to achieve change.
Source: Gustaf Lofgren, Tris Lumley and Adam O'Boyle, Critical Masses: Social campaigning, a guide for donors and funders, New Philanthropy Capital (0207 401 8080)
Links: Report | NPC press release
Date: 2008-Dec
An article examined whether the media had led the government agenda on healthy eating and school dinners, as appeared to be the case. A close examination of the evidence suggested otherwise: government policy was already well set before the media began to show a concerted interest, and hence its influence on policy-making was more limited than might be expected.
Source: Asmita Naik, 'Did Jamie Oliver really put school dinners on the agenda? An examination of the role of the media in policy making', Political Quarterly, Volume 79 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Nov
A new book examined the connexion between nationalism and social policy, based on a study of three states featuring strong nationalist movements – the United Kingdom (Scotland), Canada (Quebec), and Belgium (Flanders).
Source: Daniel Béland and André Lecours, Nationalism and Social Policy: The politics of territorial solidarity, Oxford University Press (01536 741727)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Oct
A report said that social science (and humanities) disciplines were not 'punching their weight' in contributing to public policy-making. It made 20 recommendations designed to improve dialogue, innovation, and knowledge transfer between leading academics and policy-makers in Westminster, Whitehall, the devolved administrations, and town halls and other public bodies. They included reducing the high proportion of government research budgets allocated, contrary to the government's own guidelines, to short-term projects; strengthening government departments' peer review mechanisms to ensure they commissioned the highest quality research; and improving training for PhD students to meet the future needs of policy-makers and other user communities. The report also recommended that universities take more account of public policy engagement in their criteria for academic promotion; and that government departments set and publish targets to increase two-way secondments with universities and research organizations. A linked report said that there was a need for a 'culture of public intellectual life' which would allow greater recognition of the benefits of studying social science and humanities. The social sciences made big contributions to the economy, government, and public life: but these were undervalued or even ignored.
Source: Alan Wilson, Punching Our Weight: The humanities and social sciences in public policy making, British Academy (020 7969 5200) | LSE Public Policy Group, Maximizing the Social, Policy and Economic Impacts of Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences, British Academy
Links: BA report | LSE report | British Academy press release | LSE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Sep
A report evaluated an experimental extension of citizen participation into decision-making processes – the Citizens' POLIS (Participatory On-Line Interactive System), a 'multi-phase, multi-method, hypermedia' participation process.
Source: Simon Williams, Introducing the Citizens' POLIS: A new approach to online citizen participation in political decision-making, Working Paper 117, School of Social Sciences/Cardiff University (029 2087 5179)
Date: 2008-Sep
A report said that people wanted to be able to influence public services policy, and would do more if they felt it would make a difference: but they did not always come forward spontaneously, so public bodies needed to be creative and pro-active about listening. Most public bodies were better at providing information than they were at listening or responding to people's views about how to make things work better. A comprehensive strategy for involvement was needed.
Source: Putting People into Public Services: Involving people in policy, National Consumer Council (020 7730 3469)
Links: Link removed
Date: 2008-Jul
A new book related the most influential moral philosophies to some of the most urgent questions in contemporary public debates about the future of welfare services, including: taxing unhealthy habits; drug legalization; parental choice in education; abortion; euthanasia; and migration and cultural diversity.
Source: Tony Fitzpatrick, Applied Ethics and Social Problems: Moral questions of birth, society and death, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Jun
A new book examined progress and change in areas of major interest in social policy during the previous year. A themed section examined gender and social policy.
Source: Tony Maltby, Patricia Kennett and Kirstein Rummery (eds.), Social Policy Review 20: Analysis and debate in social policy, 2008, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Jun
A think-tank report said that many of the major challenges facing society required that individuals change their behaviour: but policies introduced thus far had had mixed results. It examined the drivers behind people's choices and behaviour, and drew out the lessons for the future development and design of policy solutions.
Source: Jessica Prendergrast, Beth Foley, Verena Menne and Alex Isaac, Creatures of Habit? The art of behavioural change, Social Market Foundation (020 7222 7060)
Date: 2008-May
A new book examined the ideas, institutions, and policies that shaped the Blair governments' decade in office. It provided a critical analysis of the key domestic policy choices, including New Labour's agenda and legacy for economic and social policy.
Source: Matt Beech and Simon Lee (eds.), Ten Years of New Labour, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Mar
The government published a discussion paper which examined the role of cultural capital – people's attitudes, values, aspirations, and sense of self-efficacy – in influencing behaviour. It said that policy-makers should take greater account of the social and cultural interactions experienced by individuals.
Source: David Knott with Stephen Muers and Stephen Aldridge, Achieving Culture Change: A policy framework, Strategy Unit/Cabinet Office (020 7276 1881)
Links: Paper | Summary | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Feb
The government published a discussion paper which provided a 'comprehensive assessment of the key long-term strategic challenges facing the people of Britain' – covering a range of issues from emerging trends in economic globalization to social mobility, public service reform, family change, demography, and climate change. It identified future challenges and opportunities that cut across traditional policy and departmental boundaries. It said that the country was 'well placed' to address the crucial issues facing it over the next 10-15 years.
Source: Realising Britain's Potential: Future strategic challenges for Britain, Strategy Unit/Cabinet Office (020 7276 1881)
Links: Report | Summary | Cabinet Office press release
Date: 2008-Feb
A report (by an official advisory body) recommended the establishment of a Risk and Regulation Advisory Council, designed to ensure that policy-making benefited from a fuller consideration of public risk. The government accepted the recommendation and appointed the Council, which replaced the Better Regulation Commission.
Source: Public Risk: The next frontier for better regulation, Better Regulation Commission (020 7276 2142)
Links: Report | DBERR press release | HSC press release | NCC press release
Date: 2008-Jan
An article examined whether social policy should be designed to increase the willingness of individuals within an organization to act as a 'knight' or 'good citizen' – based on the observation that individuals are often motivated by the intrinsic value of an action, and notwithstanding their belief that action by one person would make very little difference.
Source: Philip Jones, '"More than the sum of parts": social policy and expressive collective action', Social Policy and Society, Volume 7 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jan