2004

Revisiting Organizational Politics: Toward a Postempirical Approach ( 294Kb)

Abstract: Although common knowledge has long acknowledged the place of political behaviour in organizational life, few attempts to rigorously theorize a political model of organization appeared before the 1980s. Developed in significant part to offset the more technical, overly rational, top-down conceptions of organization and management, these emerging models offered interesting new ways to look at both intra- and interorganisational action. While the approach can shed light on political realities typically ignored or neglected by dominant mainstream theories, it has suffered from an uncritical pluralist theory of politics. To adequately elucidate the basic political issues, as critical organizational theorists have argued, the model requires a more complex theory of power. But also missing is an alternative postempiricist epistemology capable of systematically investigating the hidden sides of organizational power and politics that a critical theory seeks to explain. The analysis draws out and illustrates the need for more interpretively-oriented qualitative modes of understanding inherent to such a perspective, in particular narrative analysis. In the course of the discussion, the essay examines the implications of such.

Citation: Fischer, F. 2004. ‘Revisiting Organizational Politics: Toward a Postempirical Approach.’ Policy and Society 24 (4): 1-31.

Regulating Genetic Engineering in the United States and the European Union: Policy Development and Policy Resilience ( 244Kb)

Abstract: The article offers an explanation of the distinct trajectories of policy development of the American and European Union regulatory regimes for genetically modified foods and crops. The permissive American regulatory regime has been resilient; the rigorous EU regime, much less so. The account of policy development and policy resilience directs attention to the foundational ideas and material legacies of regulatory policies at an early critical juncture of their development, and the distinct mechanisms of reproduction that resulted. It argues that the constitutive ideas of US policies for GM crops and foods, and the material coalitions these ideas induced, created power and functionalist mechanisms of reproduction that have stabilised policies and limited reforms to incremental adaptations. By contrast, the initial critical juncture of EU policy development resulted in core ideational principles that relied on different functional and legitimation logics. Their material (power) base much weaker, early EU regulatory policies for GM foods and crops failed to be resilient when the institutional and normative context shifted.

Citation: Skogstad, G. and E. Moore. 2004. ‘Regulating Genetic Engineering in the United States and the European Union: Policy Development and Policy Resilience.’ Policy and Society 24 (4): 32-56.

Axing ATSIC: Australian Liberalism and the “Government of Unfreedom” ( 247Kb)

Abstract: The Howard Government’s axing of ATSIC has attracted widespread criticism from Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike, much of it articulated in terms of an argument that we are witnessing a “return to assimilation” in Australian Indigenous affairs. This paper cautions against such a “return to assimilation” analysis of Indigenous policy and administration. Rather, I argue that the changes are more accurately understood in terms of a shifting configuration of “liberal” and “advanced liberal” forms of governance. Both modes of governance (and the forms of political reasoning and technologies of government they manifest) are typically understood as premised on liberal practices of freedom, but the axing of ATSIC is just one example of how they are shown in Australian Indigenous affairs simultaneously to manifest specifically authoritarian liberal practices of “unfreedom”.

Citation: Watson, V. 2004. ‘Axing ATSIC: Australian Liberalism and the “Government of Unfreedom”.’ Policy and Society 24 (4): 57-81.

Business Cluster Promotion in New Zealand and the Limits of Exemplar Clusters ( 305Kb)

Abstract: Cluster policies have been adopted around the world despite the lack of agreement over how clusters should be identified. Much of the justification relies on an interpretation of exemplar clusters as models for local economic development. This claim overlooks constraints on the ability to replicate exemplar clusters. A review of cluster projects in New Zealand finds six ways that clusters fall short of the ideal: (i) value chain division; (ii) conditions on cooperation; (iii) the need to go national; (iv) facilitator dependence; (v) need for a leader; (vi) missing clusters. These limitations are traced to gaps in the interpretation of exemplar clusters rather than policy imperfections. Hitherto unaddressed policy dilemmas arise when working with the forms of cluster that have been encouraged.

Citation: Perry, M. 2004. ‘Business Cluster Promotion in New Zealand and the Limits of Exemplar Clusters.’ Policy and Society 24 (4): 82-103.

Towards an Integrated Approach? Food Inspection Reforms in Canada and the European Union
( 288Kb)

Abstract: Policy integration has become a fashionable concept among policy-makers at national and international levels over the last two decades, and both Canada and the European Union have adopted food safety policy integration as a central objective. This comparative study analyses how this objective has played out in the recent reforms of the Canadian and EU food inspection systems. The article argues that similar patterns of integration can be identified along the vertical dimension as a result of the development of stronger policy and program coordination capacities at the centre. In terms of horizontal integration, the EU food inspections system appears more consistent, interdependent, and structurally connected around the overriding food safety objective of protecting the health of the population.

Citation: Ugland, T and F. Veggeland. 2004. ‘Towards an Integrated Approach? Food Inspection Reforms in Canada and the European Union.’ Policy and Society 24 (4): 104-124.

Independent Food Agencies – Restoring Confidence ( 306Kb)

Abstract: The article examines food agencies created in the wake of the mad cow disease or BSE crisis in 1996. Two specific food agencies, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Great Britain, and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the EU, are compared. Central research questions focus on the reasons and reasoning behind their establishment, and the comparison is centred on dimensions of activities and degrees of independence. The establishment of independent agencies has been highlighted as a recent trend in public policy and management. The creation of such agencies is frequently assumed to produce accountability, trust and confidence in regulation and regulating institutions by separating execution from policy making institutions. In the case of food agencies, an additional essential dimension is the question of independence from agricultural and commercial interests, whereas food safety regulation has a fundamental legitimacy basis within the field of public health.

Citation: Hellebø Rykkja, L. 2004. ‘Independent Food Agencies – Restoring Confidence.’ Policy and Society 24 (4): 125-148.

About us : Past Issues : Submissions : Subscribe



		2004 Revisiting Organizational Politics: Toward a Postempirical Approach ( 294Kb) Abstract: Although common knowledge has long acknowledged the place of political behaviour in organizational life, few attempts to rigorously theorize a political model of organization appeared before the 1980s. Developed in significant part to offset the more technical, overly rational, top-down conceptions of organization and management, these emerging models offered interesting new ways to look at both intra- and interorganisational action. While the approach can shed light on political realities typically ignored or neglected by dominant mainstream theories, it has suffered from an uncritical pluralist theory of politics. To adequately elucidate the basic political issues, as critical organizational theorists have argued, the model requires a more complex theory of power. But also missing is an alternative postempiricist epistemology capable of systematically investigating the hidden sides of organizational power and politics that a critical theory seeks to explain. The analysis draws out and illustrates the need for more interpretively-oriented qualitative modes of understanding inherent to such a perspective, in particular narrative analysis. In the course of the discussion, the essay examines the implications of such. Citation: Fischer, F. 2004. ‘Revisiting Organizational Politics: Toward a Postempirical Approach.’ Policy and Society 24 (4): 1-31. Regulating Genetic Engineering in the United States and the European Union: Policy Development and Policy Resilience ( 244Kb) Abstract: The article offers an explanation of the distinct trajectories of policy development of the American and European Union regulatory regimes for genetically modified foods and crops. The permissive American regulatory regime has been resilient; the rigorous EU regime, much less so. The account of policy development and policy resilience directs attention to the foundational ideas and material legacies of regulatory policies at an early critical juncture of their development, and the distinct mechanisms of reproduction that resulted. It argues that the constitutive ideas of US policies for GM crops and foods, and the material coalitions these ideas induced, created power and functionalist mechanisms of reproduction that have stabilised policies and limited reforms to incremental adaptations. By contrast, the initial critical juncture of EU policy development resulted in core ideational principles that relied on different functional and legitimation logics. Their material (power) base much weaker, early EU regulatory policies for GM foods and crops failed to be resilient when the institutional and normative context shifted. Citation: Skogstad, G. and E. Moore. 2004. ‘Regulating Genetic Engineering in the United States and the European Union: Policy Development and Policy Resilience.’ Policy and Society 24 (4): 32-56. Axing ATSIC: Australian Liberalism and the “Government of Unfreedom” ( 247Kb) Abstract: The Howard Government’s axing of ATSIC has attracted widespread criticism from Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike, much of it articulated in terms of an argument that we are witnessing a “return to assimilation” in Australian Indigenous affairs. This paper cautions against such a “return to assimilation” analysis of Indigenous policy and administration. Rather, I argue that the changes are more accurately understood in terms of a shifting configuration of “liberal” and “advanced liberal” forms of governance. Both modes of governance (and the forms of political reasoning and technologies of government they manifest) are typically understood as premised on liberal practices of freedom, but the axing of ATSIC is just one example of how they are shown in Australian Indigenous affairs simultaneously to manifest specifically authoritarian liberal practices of “unfreedom”. Citation: Watson, V. 2004. ‘Axing ATSIC: Australian Liberalism and the “Government of Unfreedom”.’ Policy and Society 24 (4): 57-81. Business Cluster Promotion in New Zealand and the Limits of Exemplar Clusters ( 305Kb) Abstract: Cluster policies have been adopted around the world despite the lack of agreement over how clusters should be identified. Much of the justification relies on an interpretation of exemplar clusters as models for local economic development. This claim overlooks constraints on the ability to replicate exemplar clusters. A review of cluster projects in New Zealand finds six ways that clusters fall short of the ideal: (i) value chain division; (ii) conditions on cooperation; (iii) the need to go national; (iv) facilitator dependence; (v) need for a leader; (vi) missing clusters. These limitations are traced to gaps in the interpretation of exemplar clusters rather than policy imperfections. Hitherto unaddressed policy dilemmas arise when working with the forms of cluster that have been encouraged. Citation: Perry, M. 2004. ‘Business Cluster Promotion in New Zealand and the Limits of Exemplar Clusters.’ Policy and Society 24 (4): 82-103. Towards an Integrated Approach? Food Inspection Reforms in Canada and the European Union ( 288Kb) Abstract: Policy integration has become a fashionable concept among policy-makers at national and international levels over the last two decades, and both Canada and the European Union have adopted food safety policy integration as a central objective. This comparative study analyses how this objective has played out in the recent reforms of the Canadian and EU food inspection systems. The article argues that similar patterns of integration can be identified along the vertical dimension as a result of the development of stronger policy and program coordination capacities at the centre. In terms of horizontal integration, the EU food inspections system appears more consistent, interdependent, and structurally connected around the overriding food safety objective of protecting the health of the population. Citation: Ugland, T and F. Veggeland. 2004. ‘Towards an Integrated Approach? Food Inspection Reforms in Canada and the European Union.’ Policy and Society 24 (4): 104-124. Independent Food Agencies – Restoring Confidence ( 306Kb) Abstract: The article examines food agencies created in the wake of the mad cow disease or BSE crisis in 1996. Two specific food agencies, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Great Britain, and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the EU, are compared. Central research questions focus on the reasons and reasoning behind their establishment, and the comparison is centred on dimensions of activities and degrees of independence. The establishment of independent agencies has been highlighted as a recent trend in public policy and management. The creation of such agencies is frequently assumed to produce accountability, trust and confidence in regulation and regulating institutions by separating execution from policy making institutions. In the case of food agencies, an additional essential dimension is the question of independence from agricultural and commercial interests, whereas food safety regulation has a fundamental legitimacy basis within the field of public health. Citation: Hellebø Rykkja, L. 2004. ‘Independent Food Agencies – Restoring Confidence.’ Policy and Society 24 (4): 125-148.

	About us : Past Issues : Submissions : Subscribe
	Copyright © 2007. Policy & Society. All Rights Reserved