Social innovation and austerity governance in Athens and Madrid: Rethinking the changing contours of policy and practice

2021 ◽  
pp. 096977642110289
Author(s):  
Athina Arampatzi
Keyword(s):  
Urban Policy ◽  
Urban Governance ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Critical Approach ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
Societal Challenges ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
Grassroots Innovations ◽  
Significant Attention

The notion of social innovation (SI) has received significant attention in academic debates and policy, denoting the potential for bottom-up and ‘bottom-linking’ sociospatial transformations and solutions to societal challenges in times of crises. This article takes on a critical approach to how SI is being employed in institutional channels and urban policy, by suggesting a reconceptualization of the different dimensions or forms it may acquire in the context of austerity governance. The article engages with case studies of policy initiatives developed in the cities of Athens and Madrid in the post-economic crisis period, in order to contribute to a new line of investigation into how policy through the ‘co-paradigm’ reconfigures the meaning and practice of SI, by tapping into the innovative dynamic of the civil society. It then critically evaluates the possibilities and limitations for grassroots innovations to influence urban governance in an era of austerity.

scholarly journals Creative industries in the capital cities of the Baltic States: Are there innovations in urban policy?

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 47-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Külliki Tafel-Viia ◽  
Erik Terk ◽  
Silja Lassur ◽  
Andres Viia
Keyword(s):  
Urban Policy ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Creative Industries ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Capital Cities ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
European Cities ◽  
The Baltic

Abstract The transformation of urban policy, resulting from ‘creative industries’ policy developments, is explored in this article, with respect to the Baltic capitals. Policy initiatives in the creative industries in Central and Eastern European cities have predominantly developed through policy transfers from Western Europe, with its long-term market economy experience. How adaptable are such policies for post-socialist cities? Using the concept of social innovation, this article describes mechanisms that facilitate policy acceptance and examines whether and how the development of creative industries has resulted in urban policy renewal in the Baltic capitals.

scholarly journals City intelligence for enhancing urban performance value: a conceptual study on data decomposition in smart cities

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-222
Author(s):  
Karima Kourtit
Keyword(s):  
Urban Planning ◽  
Urban Policy ◽  
Urban Governance ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Urban System ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Urban Life ◽  
Data Decomposition ◽  
Blowing Up ◽  
Technology Age

AbstractThe contemporary ‘digital age’ prompts the need for a re-assessment of urban planning principles and practices. Against the background of current data-rich urban planning, this study seeks to address the question whether an appropriate methodological underpinning can be provided for smart city governance based on a data-driven planning perspective. It posits that the current digital technology age has a drastic impact on city strategies and calls for a multi-faceted perspective on future urban development, termed here the ‘XXQ-principle’ (which seeks to attain the highest possible level of quality for urban life). Heterogeneity in urban objectives and data embodied in the XXQ-principle can be systematically addressed by a process of data decomposition (based on a ‘cascade principle’), so that first, higher-level urban policy domains are equipped with the necessary (‘big’) data provisions, followed by lower-ranking urban governance levels. The conceptual decomposition principle can then be translated into a comprehensive hierarchical model architecture for urban intelligence based on the ‘flying disc’ model, including key performance indicators (KPIs). This new model maps out the socio-economic arena of a complex urban system according to the above cascade system. The design of this urban system architecture and the complex mutual connections between its subsystems is based on the ‘blowing-up’ principle that originates from a methodological deconstruction-reconstruction paradigm in the social sciences. The paper advocates the systematic application of this principle to enhance the performance of smart cities, called the XXQ performance value. This study is not empirical, although it is inspired by a wealth of previous empirical research. It aims to advance conceptual and methodological thinking on principles of smart urban planning.

Institutional capacity development within the national urban policy formation process – Participants’ views

2021 ◽  
pp. 239965442110021
Author(s):  
Ratka Čolić ◽  
Đorđe Milić ◽  
Jasna Petrić ◽  
Nataša Čolić
Keyword(s):  
Formation Process ◽  
Urban Policy ◽  
Urban Governance ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Capacity Development ◽  
Policy Formation ◽  
Institutional Capacity ◽  
Governance Practices ◽  
Institutional Capacity Development ◽  
National Urban Policy

In 2019, Serbia adopted its first national urban policy. This document was established through a communicative process during 2018–2019, formally encouraging urban governance as a practical innovation in Serbia’s planning doctrine. The main aim of this research is to explore institutional capacity development within a live setting of the policy formation process. The participants of this process are the primary subjects of the research. Data was collected through participatory events in four instances during the process. The concept of institutional capacity development is used in this paper as a basic framework to assess knowledge, relational and mobilisation capacity for urban governance. The main contribution of this paper is providing an understanding of the challenges and potentials for establishing urban governance practices in a post-socialist country planning context. Findings indicate an increase in the participants’ knowledge and understanding of governance instruments such that coordination and cooperation are continually unfolding. The identified challenges relate to the mobilisation capacity and fragility of institutions and resistance to change, while a need to deal with complexity and uncertainty remains present.

Moving the National Institute of Justice Forward: July 2010 through December 2012

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-174
Author(s):  
John H. Laub
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Evaluation Agency ◽  
Department Of Justice ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
National Institute Of Justice ◽  
Rigorous Research ◽  
Criminology And Criminal Justice ◽  
New Strategies

Criminologists are often frustrated by the disconnect between sound empirical research and public policy initiatives. Recently, there have been several attempts to better connect research evidence and public policy. While these new strategies may well bear fruit, I believe the challenge is largely an intellectual one. Ideas and research evidence must guide public policy and practice. In this article, I present highlights from my tenure as the Director of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the research, development, and evaluation agency in the Department of Justice. One of the ideas that I emphasized at NIJ was “Translational Criminology.” I believe translational criminology acknowledges NIJ’s unique mission to facilitate rigorous research that is relevant to the practice and policy. I also discuss the challenges I faced in bringing research to bear on public policy and practice. I end with a call for my colleagues in criminology and criminal justice to become more involved in government.

scholarly journals John Lindsay, the Association for a Better New York, and the Privatization of New York City, 1969-1973

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 557-577
Author(s):  
Joe Merton
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Urban Policy ◽  
Urban Governance ◽  
Labor Relations ◽  
Street Crime ◽  
Urban Problems

Focusing on the collaboration between Mayor John Lindsay and business advocacy group the Association for a Better New York (ABNY), this article illustrates the utility of public and elite anxieties over street crime in legitimizing new, privatized models of urban governance during the early 1970s. ABNY’s privatized crime-fighting initiatives signified a new direction in city law enforcement strategies, a new “common sense” regarding the efficacy and authority of private or voluntarist solutions to urban problems, and proved of lasting significance for labor relations, the regulation of urban space, and the role of the private sector in urban policy. It concludes that, despite their limitations, the visibility of ABNY’s initiatives, their ability to construct a pervasive sense of crisis, and their apparent demonstration of public and elite consent played a significant role in the transformation of New York into the “privatized” or “neoliberal” city of today.

Conclusions: grounds for hope

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Cahill
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Care Policy ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
The Core ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Policy Objectives ◽  
Rights Issues

This chapter will be used to highlight the key contribution this book makes to the field of dementia care policy and practice, as well as identifying some of its limitations. Returning to the core themes consolidated in the UN Convention and introduced in chapter three namely equality autonomy participation and solidarity and based on the topics reviewed in earlier chapters, the chapter points to the gaps that exist between the rhetoric of policy initiatives and the reality of peoples’ everyday lives and the further gap that can exist between policy objectives and research evidence. The chapter argues for a need for much more budgetary and political attention to be focused on dementia and for future iterations of dementia strategies to take cognizance of human rights issues. Human rights legislation rather than being seen as punitive and burdensome should be viewed as a critical framework for guiding all levels of action with people with dementia and their family members.

scholarly journals “Bologna Digital”—Actively Shaping the Digital Transformation in European Higher Education

2020 ◽  
pp. 583-596
Author(s):  
Dominic Orr ◽  
Florian Rampelt ◽  
Alexander Knoth
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Policy ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Bologna Process ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Strategic Integration ◽  
Strategic Impact ◽  
European Higher Education ◽  
New Vision

Abstract Digital transformation will impact the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and could contribute to developing a new vision for the Bologna Process and for higher education in Europe and beyond. In recent years, research on European and national levels has shown increasing attention being paid to digitalisation and digital transformation by higher education leadership. The 2015 and 2018 Ministerial Communiqués also clearly emphasised the importance of the topic for the EHEA. Yet, a strategic integration of digitalisation into higher education policy and practice remains hard to find. This is for two main reasons: (1) because although digitalisation is often seen as a technical innovation, it must, in fact, be a social innovation for it to have any impact and (2) because higher education as a field of practice, especially in Europe, is a multi-layered system where strategic impact is only possible if all layers are broadly following the same objectives. With reference to policy theory, the authors conjectured that reducing goal conflict and practice ambiguity would help to facilitate a more integrative digital policy and practice. With this aim, the authors launched a White Paper in 2019 to facilitate broad agreement on the potential of digitalisation within the Bologna framework. This contribution provides an interim evaluation of the initiative and its next steps. In this, it provides a reflexive review of how practitioners and researchers in the field might hope to influence policymaking and practice in the area of digitalisation.

Voluntary sector peak bodies during the COVID-19 crisis: a case study of Philanthropy Australia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krystian Seibert ◽  
Alexandra Williamson ◽  
Michael Moran
Keyword(s):  
Voluntary Sector ◽  
Research Note ◽  
Policy Outcomes ◽  
Policy Advocacy ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Policy Entrepreneurship ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
Policy Responses ◽  
Policy Windows

The Australian philanthropic sector’s peak (or umbrella) membership body, Philanthropy Australia, has played a significant role in shaping sector responses to COVID-19 and influencing government policy initiatives regarding the voluntary sector. This research note explores four key actions taken by Philanthropy Australia, with a particular focus on policy advocacy. It highlights how ‘policy windows’ provide opportunities for voluntary sector peak bodies to demonstrate policy entrepreneurship, secure desirable policy outcomes and show their value to members, government and other stakeholders. ‘Bad times’ require new and innovative policy responses, and this research note provides insights into how voluntary sector peak bodies can shape policy and practice responses to major crises.

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