scholarly journals Dimensions of Discretion: Specifying the Object of Street-Level Bureaucracy Research

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (2-2013) ◽  
pp. 425-440
Author(s):  
Peter Hupe

At the street level of the state public policies get their final form and substance. This being so, discretion is a key concept. The goal of this article is to specify discretion as a research object in the study of street-level bureaucracy. Therefore the theoretical views on discretion prevalent in juridical and other disciplines are explored. Discretion appears to be a multi-faceted concept. This finding has consequences for the analysis of discretion in the explanation of what happens in street-level bureaucracies.

Author(s):  
Rachel Humphris

This chapter explores the gendered complexities of the home encounter. It builds brings together the anthropological debates on the state and street-level bureaucracy to include feminist analysis of care and racialized motherhood. This chapter details how particular meanings that are imbued in the ‘private’ and domestic space heighten the gendered nature of governing relationships, placing more work on women and simultaneously excluding men. The chapter explores how family organisation and inscribed gender roles therein can exacerbate or ease the uncertainty and confusion within home encounters. The chapter not only examines how home encounters shape the relationships among Romanian Roma women and men, but also relationships between women and, typically, female support workers and, typically, male church volunteers. The chapter argues that those who perform ‘appropriate’ subjects of care (as mothers) can be positioned as objects of care (of the state) and consequently that men are excluded from these processes.


Public Voices ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
Lauren Bock Mullins

This article explores the similarities and differences between the art of improvisation and street-level bureaucracy. By offering a new framework that points out the similarities between bureaucratic discretion and improvisation, we see how street-level bureaucracy has artistic elements, which can be helpful in expanding our understanding of this phenomenon.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-90
Author(s):  
Mara Soledad Segura ◽  
Alejandro Linares ◽  
Agustn Espada ◽  
Vernica Longo ◽  
Ana Laura Hidalgo ◽  
...  

Since 2004 and for the first time in the history of broadcasting in the region, a dozen Latin American countries have acknowledged community radio and television stations as legal providers of audiovisual communication services. In Argentina, a law passed in 2009 not only awarded legal recognition to the sector, it also provided a promotion mechanism for community media. In this respect, it was one of the most ambitious ones in the region. The driving question is: How relevant are public policies for the sustainability of community media in Argentina? The argument is: even though the sector of community media has developed and persisted for decades in illegal conditions imposed by the state, the legalization and promotion policies carried out by the state from the perspective of human rights in a context of extreme media ownership concentration have been critical to the growth and sustainability of non-profit media.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
A B Guerra ◽  
L M Guerra ◽  
L F Probst ◽  
B V Castro Gondinho ◽  
G M Bovi Ambrosano ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The state of São Paulo recorded a significant reduction in infant mortality, but the desired reduction in maternal mortality was not achieved. Knowledge of the factors with impact on these indicators would be of help in formulating public policies. The aims of this study were to evaluate the relations between socioeconomic and demographic factors, health care model and both infant mortality and maternal mortality in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods In this ecological study, data from national official open sources were used. Analyzed were 645 municipalities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. For each municipality, the infant mortality and maternal mortality rates were calculated for every 1000 live births, 2013. The association between these rates, socioeconomic variables, demographic models and the primary care organization model in the municipality were verified. We used the zero-inflated negative binomial model. Gross analysis was performed and then multiple regression models were estimated. For associations, we adopted “p” at 5%. Results The increase in the HDI of the city and proportion of Family Health Care Strategy implemented were significantly associated with the reduction in both infant mortality (neonatal + post-neonatal) and maternal mortality rates. In turn, the increase in birth and caesarean delivery rates were associated with the increase in infant and maternal mortality rates. Conclusions It was concluded that the Family Health Care Strategy model that contributed to the reduction in infant (neonatal + post-neonatal) and maternal mortality rates, and so did actors such as HDI and cesarean section. Thus, public health managers should prefer this model. Key messages Implementation of public policies with specific focus on attenuating these factors and making it possible to optimize resources, and not interrupting the FHS. Knowledge of the factors with impact on these indicators would be of help in formulating public policies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christin Achermann

AbstractThis article analyses how border guards as members of a state organisation shape the movement of non-nationals into the territory of a nation state. Based on ethnographic fieldwork on the Swiss Border Guard (SBG), it explores the rationalities—understood as stabilised ways of reasoning and acting—that characterise practices within this state organisation. Combining organisational and structuration theory with a street-level bureaucracy perspective allows for a differentiated analysis of the various facets of border guards’ everyday work. Four rationalities of border-control practices are identified and compared: security, humanitarian, cost-calculation, and pragmatic rationality. I argue that, by considering both the specific goals and imperatives of border control and the characteristics of street-level bureaucrats acting within a state organisation, these entangled logics explain the complex and incoherent social reality of border control. More generally, the results contribute to organisational theory by pointing to the importance of taking into account that multiple entangled rationalities structure the practices of an organisation’s members.


2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 783-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
MEGAN BLAXLAND

AbstractMeetings between advisers and claimants are central to many welfare-to-work programmes. These ‘street-level’ exchanges between clients and staff are critical to the implementation of policy. When talking to welfare claimants, it becomes clear that contact with welfare bureaucrats is constitutive of their experience of policy and it is not until parent and adviser meet and negotiate that the policy is truly enacted. The policy comes into being through an exchange between advisers and parents, who interact, albeit unequally, to shape the proceedings. This paper examines the experience of parents claiming income support who faced compulsory employment measures. Drawing on research with claimants of teenage children, I examine the adviser meeting as an interpellative interaction. The state addresses mothers as workers and welfare claimants in an interpellation which is mediated by the adviser in dialogue with the mother. This analysis demonstrates how the notion of interpellation can inform research on street-level interactions.


Author(s):  
Leandro Berenguer ◽  
◽  

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted States to adopt exceptional measures to contain their spreads rates and therefore mitigate their effects. In Portugal there was a need to resort to the figure of the state of emergency, being used for the first time since the foundation of the third Republic. To respond to a situation of public calamity, the suspension, albeit partial, of fundamental rights, freedoms and guarantees was used, adopting measures with repercussions in the most varied areas of civil society. Based on the security context of a State, this article intends to analyse the declarations of the state of emergency in Portugal in the light of the theoretical framework of public policies, reflecting on the process of implementing the state of emergency. To this end, the top-down and bottom-up approaches are placed in confrontation as the main theories of public policies implementation in the analysis of the unprecedented political context in Portugal.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Germán Rey

Del dicho al hecho. El trecho recorrido por algunas políticas culturales colombianasResumen El Compendio de Políticas culturales de Colombia (2010) es el panorama escrito más completo de las políticas culturales nacionales. Pero, aun así, se trata de una fotografía de un momento, no solo porque ellas se transforman por las decisiones del Estado, sino porque las dinámicas sociales –por ejemplo, las locales y las regionales– las hacen evolucionar. Si se observara a través de una suerte de microscopio de lo simbólico lo que Michel de Certeau denominó el “hormiguero” de la cultura, las políticas públicas aparecerían como un campo en constante movimiento, con continuidades, desencuentros, fracasos, resistencias y caminos heterodoxos.From Saying to Doing. The Path Covered by Some Colombian Cultural PoliciesAbstractThe Compendium of Cultural Policies of Colombia (2010) is the most comprehensive written panorama of national cultural policies. But, even as such, it is a photograph of a moment, not only because these policies are transformed by the decisions of the state, but also because the social dynamics –for example, at the local and regional level– make them evolve. If one observes through a kind of microscope of the symbolic what Michel de Certeau called the "anthill" of culture, public policies would appear as a field in constant movement, with continuities, disagreements, failures, resistances and heterodox paths.KeywordsPolicies of reading and libraries; policies of cinematography; policies of entrepreneurship and cultural industries; plans of culture, ColombiaRemaska  y ruraska. Ñambe poreska sug política culturalkuna colombiape.Maillallachiska:Chi comprendio política culturalkuna Colombiape (2010) kam panorama kilkaska más completo política cultural nacional. Pero chasapas, tratarenme sug retrato sug retratomanda manak trukaren kuname decisión estadomanda, arre mana chi dinamika socialkuna. Sug ejemplo  localkuna y regionalkuna- rurankuna kaugsachii. Kauarenra sug microscopio simbolikope ima Miguel de  Certeau nirka, sug “Achka añanguina” culturape, chi políticas públicas. Kauarerka sug campo iapa kuiurikugsina, suiuchispa, desencuentros, fracasos, resistencias y ñambekuna heterodoxos.Rimangapa Ministidukuna:Política de  lectura y bibliotecas, política de cinematografía, política de empoderamiento e industrias  culturales, planes de cultura, Colombia. Dès le dicton au fait. Le chemin couvert par certaines politiques culturelles colombiennesRésuméLe Compendium des politiques culturelles de la Colombie (2010) est le panorama écrit le plus complet des politiques culturelles nationales. Pourtant, c'est une photographie de l’instant, non seulement parce qu'elles sont transformées par les décisions de l'État, mais parce que les dynamiques sociales –par exemple, locales et régionales– les font évoluer. Si l'on observe à travers une sorte de microscope du symbolique ce que Michel de Certeau appelait le « fourmilier » de la culture, les politiques publiques apparaîtraient comme un champ en mouvement constant, avec des continuités, des désaccords, des échecs, des résistances et des chemins hétérodoxes.Mots clésPolitique de la lecture et des bibliothèques; politique de la cinématographie; politique de l'entrepreneuriat et des industries culturelles; plans de culture; ColombieDO DITADO AO FATO. O TRECHO PERCORRIDO POR ALGUMAS POLÍTICAS CULTURAIS COLOMBIANAS.Germán RResumoO Compêndio de Políticas Culturais da Colômbia (2010) 1 é o panorama escrito mais completo das políticas Culturais nacionais. Mas mesmo assim, se trata de uma fotografia de um momento, não só porque elas se transformam pelas decisões do Estado, senão porque também as dinâmicas sociais – por exemplo as locais e as regionais – as fazem evolucionar.  Se observa-se através de uma sorte de microscópio do simbólico o que Michel de Certeau denominou o “hormiguero” da cultura, as políticas públicas apareceriam como um campo em constante movimento, com continuidades, desencontros, fracasos, resistências e caminhos heterodoxos.Palavras-chavePolítica de leitura e bibliotecas; política de cinematografia; política de empreendimento e indústrias culturais, planos de cultura; Colômbia


Author(s):  
Alfonso CHACÓN MATA

LABURPENA: «Giza Eskubideetan Oinarritutako Ikuspegiaren» irismena azaltzeko asmoa dauka artikulu honek, zer-nolako aldagaiak eta kontzeptuak biltzen dituen ulertze aldera. Horren bilakaeraz eta indarraldiaz arituko gara, bai eta horren modalitate aplikatua nola nabarmentzen den azalduko ere. Horretarako, Nazio Batuen Erakundearen esparruan garatu diren ekarpenak eta gaiaren inguruko doktrina aditua erabiliko ditugu. Administrazio Publikoan duen indarra ezin ukatuzkoa da; izan ere, estatuak eta horri atxikitako erakundeek oso kontuan eduki behar dute politika publikoak norbanakoen eta komunitateen beharrei arreta ematen ari zaien jakiteko balio duela ikuspegi horrek, edota politika publiko horiek kontu emanez gardentasun publikoa eratzen ari diren nahiz edozelako diskriminazioa saihesten ari diren jakiteko balio duela. Azkenik, ikuspegi horrek Giza Eskubideen Gorte Interamerikarraren jurisprudentzia-aurrekari batzuetan duen indarraldia eta eragina aztertuko dira. RESUMEN: El presente artículo tiene la intención de exponer los alcances del «Enfoque Basado en Derechos Humanos», con la finalidad de entender que variables y conceptos involucra. Haremos un recuento de su evolución, vigencia y cómo se evidencia su modalidad aplicada, a través de diferentes aportes desarrollados en el marco de la Organización de Naciones Unidas, así como de la doctrina estudiosa del tema. Su vigencia en la Administración Pública es de primer orden, puesto que el Estado y sus entidades adscritas, deben tener muy en cuenta que el enfoque citado, sirve para conocer si las políticas públicas, están atendiendo necesidades de individuos y comunidades concretas; generando transparencia pública a través de rendición de cuentas, así como evitando cualquier tipo de discriminación. Finalmente, se analizará su vigencia e impacto en algunos antecedentes jurisprudenciales de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. ABSTRACT: This article intends to expose the scope of the «Human Rights Based Approach», in order to understand what variables and concepts it involves. We will recount its evolution, validity and how its applied modality is evidenced, through different contributions developed within the framework of the United Nations, as well as the doctrine studious of the subject. Its validity in the Public Administration is of the first order, since the State and its affiliated entities must take into account that the aforementioned approach serves to know if public policies are addressing the needs of specific individuals and communities; Generating public transparency through accountability, as well as avoiding any type of discrimination. Finally, its validity and impact will be analyzed in some jurisprudential antecedents of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document