Combining behavioural and reflective policy tools for the environment:a scoping review of behavioural public policy literature

Recent advances in behavioural and communication sciences generated enthusiasm in public policy for new ways of ‘framing’ messages and ‘nudging’ individual behaviour. Wide research and practice of behavioural interventions that have since ensued triggered the rise of a new sub-field called Behavioural Public Policy (BPP). At the same time, nudges–a part and parcel of BPP, have received criticism for being paternalistic, non-democratic and lacking evidence of long-term effectiveness. More recently, the whole project of BPP has come under criticism as construed too narrowly. Critics have argued for a new approach to BPP that is pluralistic, multi-disciplinary and multi-method. One key pillar of it is a ‘policy mix’–a combined application of behavioural and non-behavioural policy tools. Little is known, however, about ‘policy mixes’ in practice. This paper conducts a scoping non-exhaustive review of the academic and policy literature published between 2008 and 2020 that discusses policy mixes of behavioural policy tools (defined in this paper as ‘nudges’ and ‘frames’) and reflective policy tools (defined in this paper as ‘deliberative’ events and incentives for individuals to ‘think’) employed within environmental policy. Two questions guide this review: (a) what are the characteristics of policy mixes in terms of their types, geography, sectors of application, and empirical detail of exposition?; (b) to what extent do existing policy mixes include broader governance aspects of politics, awareness of contextuality and flexibility? By taking stock of experiences of empirical place-based policy mixes of behavioural and reflective tools, we provide insights into a fast-developing body of scholarship and point to ways forward with policy mixes. The paper is also relevant to policy studies beyond the domain of the environment.</p

IMPROVING THE METHODOLOGY OF TEACHING THE SCIENCE OF "CYBERSECURITY FUNDAMENTALS" IN THE CONDITIONS OF IDEOLOGICAL THREATS

This research article addresses the pressing need to enhance the methodology employed in teaching the foundational principles of cybersecurity, particularly in the face of ideological threats. By employing a mixed-methods approach, incorporating surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and experimental simulations, the study explores current perceptions, knowledge levels, and learning preferences among participants. The findings underscore the significance of integrating multidisciplinary perspectives, experiential learning, and a global outlook in cybersecurity education. Proposed methodological enhancements aim to cultivate a new generation of cybersecurity professionals equipped to navigate the intricate challenges of ideological manipulation in the digital age

Rethinking the Travel of Ideas: Policy Translation in the Water Sector

The travel of policy ideas across countries is a widely acknowledged phenomenon. Conventional approaches to the study of this process hinge on concepts such as ‘policy transfer’, ‘policy diffusion’, ‘lesson-drawing’ and ‘institutional isomorphism’. These approaches are influential in understanding public policy; however, they assume perfect rationality of actors, the stability of governance scales and the immutability of policy ideas in their travel. I propose policy translation as a new approach to counter these shortcomings and study the travel of policy ideas in order to shed light on pertaining policy questions, such as whether the travel of policy ideas may be navigated, and if so, how. I illustrate the relevance and value of policy translation with a case study from the water sector in Turkey