New Regulatory Institutions in Infrastructure

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Navroz K. Dubash
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
Regulatory Process ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Indian Context ◽  
Regulatory Institutions ◽  
Regulatory Decisions ◽  
Technical Rules ◽  
New Infrastructure

This chapter examines the rise, design, and functioning of new infrastructure regulatory institutions in India, with particular attention to the process through which regulators are embedded in a local context. Regulatory performance is often benchmarked against an effort to insulate decision making from undue political influence by delegating powers to technocratic agencies. By this benchmark, regulators have been relatively unsuccessful. But conceptualising the regulatory process as one to be re-made around technical rules is too simple; the Indian context requires regulators to constructively engage with negotiations that occur over regulatory decisions. For this reason, rather than atomistic agencies, “regulatory space” is a more appropriate construct through which to examine the regulatory process, with the judiciary and civil society as particularly important actors. From this broader perspective, regulatory outcomes are more diverse, particularly in their ability to create new spaces for creatively engaging politics.

scholarly journals Investigation of the attitudes, needs, and expectations of the Saligny community

2015 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 1573-1580 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Constantin ◽  
M. Constantin ◽  
D. Diaconu
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Public Participation ◽  
Radioactive Waste Disposal ◽  
Local Context ◽  
The Public ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
The Right

AbstractMany countries encourage national forums for transparency, dialogue and participation with regards to radioactive waste disposal. However, the local actors (authorities, non-government organisations and the public) often note a lack of public participation in the decision making process. Civil society is often frustrated with its limited involvement in the consultative process. Participation is regulated by national laws and rules and the right to participate in environmental decision-making is covered by the Aarhus Convention. Continuous dialogue amongst stakeholders is seen as important in building sustainable solutions in radioactive waste management. In addition, understanding public concerns and needs can increase the trust between the partners and build confidence in the process.Different national and local contexts have contributed to the development of quite a broad set of approaches and tools for stakeholder engagement. This paper describes the use of such tools in the engagement with the Saligny community in the siting process of a repository for low- and intermediate-level wastes in Romania. Some specific issues are highlighted such as: the low level of interest amongst the public in relation to long-term projects; over-estimation of benefits in comparison to the negative aspects of hosting a repository; lack of a coherent public voice; and a perceived lack of information on the project from the authorities and the implementer. The present study describes the setting up of the participatory approach to engage with the public and the different methods employed (including citizen juries, workshops, open days, etc.). A number of criteria were developed for evaluating the effectiveness of these methods particularly with regards to their adaptability to a local context such as Saligny. The paper then focuses on the results of one of these methods – the use of focus groups covering a cross-section of civil society – including members of the general public, a group of professionals and a group of local councillors. The study has resulted in a number of recommendations to the implementer on how to build a new programme for public participation.

The Meritocratization of Civil Society

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Bovens ◽  
Anchrit Wille
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
Public Affairs ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Advocacy Groups ◽  
Interest Representation ◽  
The People ◽  
Professional Advocacy ◽  
Education Gap

Civil society organizations are, if not schools, at least pools of democracy. In the ‘third sector’, too, active engagement and participation ‘by the people’ have given way to meritocracy, or, in other words, to rule by the well-educated. Many popularly rooted mass organizations have witnessed a decline in membership and political influence. Their role as intermediary between politics and society has been taken over by professionally managed advocacy groups that operate with university educated public affairs consultants. First, the chapter describes the associational revolution, the enormous increase in the number of civil society organizations. Then it in analyses the education gap in membership and the shift from large membership organizations to lean professional advocacy groups, which has occurred over the past three decades. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the net effect of this meritocratization of civil society for political participation and interest representation.

Japan Meets the Sharing Economy: Contending Frames

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas G ALTURA ◽  
Yuki HASHIMOTO ◽  
Sanford M JACOBY ◽  
Kaoru KANAI ◽  
Kazuro SAGUCHI
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
The World ◽  
Framing Processes ◽  
Regulatory Institutions

Abstract The ‘sharing economy’ epitomized by Airbnb and Uber has challenged business, labor, and regulatory institutions throughout the world. The arrival of Airbnb and Uber in Japan provided an opportunity for Prime Minister Abe’s administration to demonstrate its commitment to deregulation. Both platform companies garnered support from powerful governmental and industry actors who framed the sharing economy as a solution to various economic and social problems. However, they met resistance from actors elsewhere in government, the private sector, and civil society, who constructed competing frames. Unlike studies that compare national responses to the sharing economy, we contrast the different experiences and fates of Airbnb and Uber within a single country. Doing so highlights actors, framing processes, and within-country heterogeneity. The study reveals the limits of overly institutionalized understandings of Japanese political economy. It also contributes to current debates concerning Prime Minister Abe’s efforts at implementing deregulation during the 2010s.

Health determinants in Canadian northern environmental impact assessment

Polar Record ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackie Bronson ◽  
Bram F. Noble
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Environmental Impact Assessment ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
Limited Attention

The need to address the human health implications of northern development is well founded, and the role of health determinants in environmental impact assessment is increasingly recognised; however, there is limited understanding of the nature of health determinants and current practices in northern project assessment and decision making. This paper reports on a study of the nature and use of health determinants in Canadian northern environmental impact assessment, and discusses the key challenges to, and opportunities for, improved practice. Four themes emerged from this study. First, the consideration of health is limited to physical environments and the physical determinants of health, with limited attention to broader social and cultural health determinants. Second, when health is considered in northern project impact assessments such considerations rarely carry forward to post-project approval monitoring of health determinants and evaluation of health impact management programmes. Third, while there is general consensus that health determinants should be an integral part of northern impact assessment, there exist different expectations of the role of health determinants in project evaluation and decision making due in large part to different understandings and interpretations of health. Finally, a broader conceptualisation of health and health determinants in northern environmental impact assessment is required; one that takes into consideration northern cultures and knowledge systems, and is adaptive to local context, geography and life cycles.

Political testimony

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han van Wietmarschen
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Expert Testimony ◽  
Decision Procedure ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
Equality Of Opportunity ◽  
Democratic Values ◽  
Political Judgment ◽  
Political Decision ◽  
Political Decision Making ◽  
Political Question

I argue that reliance on political testimony conflicts with two democratic values: the value of mutual justifiability and the value of equality of opportunity for political influence. Reliance on political testimony is characterized by a reliance on the assertions of others directly on a political question the citizen is asked to answer as part of a formal democratic decision procedure. Reliance on expert testimony generally, even in the context of political decision-making, does not similarly conflict with democratic values. As a consequence of the argument, citizens have a pro tanto reason to rely on their own political judgment when determining their vote, and democratic societies have a reason to only ask citizens questions they are able to answer without reliance on political testimony.

scholarly journals Self-monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG): Cornerstone of Diabetes Management- Bangladesh Perspective: A Recommendation

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 218-223
Author(s):  
Zafar Ahmed Latif
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Glycemic Status ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
International Guidelines ◽  
Local Guideline

SMBG is a crucial factor in diabetes management. It offersa quick check of glycemic status, helps to identify hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. In addition SMBG assists in clinical decision making and as such it complements HbA1c. But due to many reasons SMBG is not practiced properly and adequately. In recent years several international guidelines higllighted the importance of SMBG for diabetes management. Very few diabetic patients in Bangladesh actually perform SMBG regularly at home. The awareness of the benefits of SMBG is also low. There is no uniformity in SMBG practice among the patients as there is no local guideline to help the physicians in determining the optimum SMBG frequency for their patients. So a working guideline on SMBG is the call of the day. This article is an attempt in that direction. Exploring international guidelines and evaluating their applicability in local context a number of recommendations have been proposed.J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2014; 32: 218-223

The Bind of Unilateral Power Dynamics and Youth Voice in School Politics

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-198
Author(s):  
Ashley D. Domínguez ◽  
Valencia Clement ◽  
Melanie Bertrand
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Bounded Rationality ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Power Structures ◽  
Youth Voice ◽  
Educational Decision ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Access To Knowledge ◽  
Educational Decision Making

Research has shown the value of including youth, especially minoritized students, in school- and district-level educational decision-making. However, power dynamics, as related to adultism, along with other inequities, are barriers to youth’s political influence. We elucidate these barriers by exploring the possible relationship between adult-adult power dynamics, on one hand, and levels of student voice in schools, on the other. Interviews with teachers and administrators about youth voice initiatives indicated that bounded rationality illuminates how limiting access to knowledge, a form of power, can impact educator decision-making. In addition, bounded rationality bolsters unilateral power structures and therefore curtails youth voice. However, we also found that building relational power between teachers and students and maneuvering beyond bounded rationality increases opportunities for youth voice.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document