Disaggregating the dependent variable in policy feedback research: An analysis of the EU Emissions Trading System

The literature on policy dynamics has long argued for a better conceptualization and measurement of the dependent variable (“policy”), but this fundamental point has often been neglected in the policy feedback literature. In this paper we explore how far disaggregating policy into different elements (policy instruments, objectives, and settings) addresses this gap. We do so by examining the world’s largest market-based climate policy instrument – emissions trading in the European Union – and reveal a number of valuable new insights. First, even if positive policy feedback locks in a policy instrument, actor contestation does not disappear, but narrows down to the more detailed level of policy settings. Second, feedback may operate differently at each policy level: the policy instrument and its settings may strengthen at the same time as support for broader objectives weakens. Finally, positive feedback may simultaneously strengthen opposing actors’ support for multiple policy elements, leading to a form of “policy stability by stalemate”. These findings highlight the need for a new, interdisciplinary phase of policy feedback research that more fully disaggregates the dependent variable across a wider range of policy areas and policy instrument types. Policy scientists are well equipped to contribute to and benefit from such a debate

Science-in-theatre: the theatrical realisation of scientific ideas in Carl Djerassi's plays

Abstrac

難於登天 Harder Than Climbing to Heaven: Fighter Aviation in the Republic of China Air Force (1928-1994)

A study of the founding and evolution of the Republic of China (ROC) Air Force\u27s fighter aviation from 1928-1994. Topics include Chinese Air Force during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), Chinese Civil War, and cross-Taiwan Strait relations throughout the Cold War

Public Kiosk

We produced 3 banner/posters, suspended over the reception desk; each will be a slogan. i.e ‘All information will be common’, ‘Advertising For All; Or For Nobody At All; Reclaim Public Opinion’ and 'Borders are for crossing'. We also propose the inclusion of Public Kiosk which is a machine for opinion formation. By taking away all retail aspects of the kiosk and replacing its branding and advertising with opinions/beliefs garnered from visitors to the Common Ground event we drew out its full social potential. ( see field notes by Roxana Morosanu). People published their opinions in and on the kiosk throughout the day. The Public Kiosk is a support structure to present our hypothesis of art and the public sphere, we announced this through graphics on/in the kiosk. Helena Hunter from the Tate Learning department joined us as part of our developmental talks on a collaborative research project between the artist - researchers and the TATE Learning Department which is concerned with rethinking the evaluation of participatory art projects. Dr. Roxana Morosanu, sociologist and research assistant RCA, joined us and produced a series of field notes

Dismantling the Acquis? Twenty Years of Environmental Policy Reform in the European Union

The financial crisis triggered yet more demands to halt and even reverse the expansion of EU policies. But have these and previous demands resulted in policy dismantling? The existing literature has certainly charted the rise of dismantling discourses (including better regulation), but not the net effect on the acquis. For the first time, this paper empirically addresses this gap in the literature through a diachronic study of changes in a policy area repeatedly targeted for dismantling. It is guided by a coding framework capturing the direction of policy change. Despite its disposition towards consensus, it reveals that the EU has become a locus for activities aimed directly at dismantling. However, not all policies targeted have been cut; many have stayed the same and some have expanded. It concludes by identifying new directions for research on a topic that has continually fallen into the analytical blind spot of EU scholars

Exploring the experience of a strengths-based approach within a forensic service

As part of an NHS England pilot scheme, Specialist Community Forensic Teams were developed aiming to support service users’ transition of care from secure forensic inpatient settings to living in the community. This study explored the experiences of service users, carers, health professionals and specialist residential accommodation providers in relation to one of these teams. The Good Lives Model was adapted by the team to inform formulation and intervention. Nineteen participants completed a mixed-methods survey. Data were processed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Findings indicate that the use of a strengths-based model within a forensic setting was perceived by stakeholders as providing an experience of relational security and hopefulness. Most stakeholders surveyed endorsed survey items indicative of a positive experience of the service. The findings from this study suggest that GLM is an acceptable model to stakeholders for formulating the needs and strengths of service users in planning their transition from residing in secure settings to living in the community

Towards harder soft governance? Monitoring climate policy in the EU

In the emerging debate on ‘harder soft governance,’ the relationship between hard and soft elements has not been fully explored. This paper addresses this gap by looking at the changing nature of policy monitoring, a quintessentially soft governance mechanism. It focuses on climate change, a dynamic site of policy expansion and experimentation in which the EU has historically been an international frontrunner. This paper finds that a range of ‘harder’ elements have been added to the EU's climate policy monitoring over time, including more explicit legal provisions, greater external publicity, and more concrete links to other policy processes. These changes have emerged from politically sensitive negotiations between many actors, principally the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Environment Agency (who together have generally favoured greater hardening), and Member States (some of whom preferred softer governance) in the context of changing international opportunities and constraints. Moving forward, this paper highlights the need for more research on the efficacy of policy monitoring, especially with respect to the EU's significantly more ambitious long-term decarbonisation targets

Perancangan Sista (Sistem Informasi Orang Tua Mahasiswa) Pada Universitas Katolik St.Thomas Dengan Metode RAD (Rapid Application Development)

Parents have a very important role in the education of their children, especially for parents who have children at the university level. Many think that a child who has entered the world of lectures is independent, but the role of parents is still important. In academic activities carried out by students, not all parents know the activities carried out by their children, even though parents need to know the development of their children at the University so that parents can direct and support their children's lectures. Therefore, so that parents know information about their children, it is necessary to create a SISTA (Parent Student Information System) at the Catholic University of Santo Thomas as an information medium for parents of students of the Catholic University of Santo Thomas so that parents can monitor and control students.Parents have a very important role in the education of their children, especially for parents who have children at the university level. Many think that a child who has entered the world of lectures is independent, but the role of parents is still important. In academic activities carried out by students, not all parents know the activities carried out by their children, even though parents need to know the development of their children at the University so that parents can direct and support their children's lectures. Therefore, so that parents know information about their children, it is necessary to create a SISTA (Parent Student Information System) at the Catholic University of Santo Thomas as an information medium for parents of students of the Catholic University of Santo Thomas so that parents can monitor and control students

Citizen Ship

Citizen Ship, artwork, 2017 Milton Keynes City Club with Milton Keynes Gallery. A mobile sculpture sited in five locations in Milton Keynes, including; Milton Keynes Gallery, Milton Keynes Art Centre, Art in the Park, Middleton Hall, Shopping centre, Feast of Fire Milton Keynes International Festival. Citizen Ship is a portable pavilion designed as a public meeting place and with a resemblance to Milton Keynes bus shelters. The artwork is part-public sculpture, part-kiosk and part-publishing laboratory. Citizen Ship extends the concept of participation in art by engaging new groups in the production of collective artworks that are displayed in and on the structure. Through conversations visitors and passer-bys developed new slogans and published them by making badges, vinyl lettering, ribbons and teletext messaging. The participatory art methods applied are directed at opinion formation in order to understand how communities create and perform collective values. Citizen Ship, was funded by Arts Council England and Milton Keynes Art Gallery

WORDS (& Pickers)

The artwork and event WORDS (& Pickers) was supported by Milton Keynes Gallery (MKG). The work was part of a month-long exhibition at MKG’ s project space. The exhibition was open from 6 - 28 October 2017. WORDS (& Pickers) was a work that focused on the slogan writing and choosing process which is central to our practice. We devise ways to write slogans with others in order to exchange opinions and discuss contemporary political issues. In this way we aim to explore the potential of art as opinion formation. These conversations and impromptu workshops are directed at the passer-by so they are directed at the individual in this way we temporarily cut out of the community and paste them into new configurations, rearranged through processes of splitting and joining (disagreeing and agreeing) and then reassembled in a new totality through acts of collective publishing. In this artwork passers-by were asked to select and wear (embody and publish) the badge that they most agreed with. We collected new versions of our slogans form the public and re-published them throughout the exhibition