Actors, Ideas, and Changes in Policy Subsystems: An Analysis of the National Youth Policy in Brazil

This article aims to discuss the role of policy subsystems in the public policy process, highlighting maintenance and change in their implementation. In particular, it analyzes the process of agenda-setting and policy formulation of the Política Nacional de Juventude [National Youth Policy] in Brazil during the Lula government, emphasizing the symbolic and political disputes around ideas and values conducted by the different actors that permeated the subsystems of this sectoral policy.

Policy Requirements for the Prevention and Management of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in South Africa: A Policy Brief

This policy brief is aimed to guide policymakers in developing a comprehensive and multi-sectoral policy for the prevention and management of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). FASD is a leading source of non-genetic developmental and intellectual disability globally and is usually associated with primary and secondary disabilities. South Africa has been identified to have the highest reported prevalence of FASD in the world. Nevertheless, evidence shows that there is no specific policy for FASD, albeit there are clauses that could be attributed to its prevention and management in other existing policies. In this brief, we present a guideline to inform programmes and interventions to tackle the FASD problem in South Africa and other relevant contexts through developing a policy.

Social Aspects of Tourism Policy in the European Union. The Example of Poland and Slovakia

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the European Union tourism policy has been increasingly focused on initiatives in the field of social tourism, which are one of the ways of achieving sustainable development in the European tourism economy. Most of the research projects that have so far been conducted in the field have focused on the benefits for its participants (subjective one: Children and youths, seniors, disabled people, people (families) with low incomes and/or unemployed, big families). However, there is a lack of research on the analysis of the place of social aspects of tourism in the general socio-economic policy of the state and, in a detailed aspect, in the sectoral policy represented by tourism policy, as well as its potential impact on the development of the national economy and meeting tourism needs of the society. The authors tried to fill this research gap in this study. The aim of the study is to differentiate the issues related to the social aspects of tourism policy from the entire socio-economic policy pursued in the European Union and selected member states (Poland and Slovakia). The article is of a theoretical–analytical–conceptual nature. Empirical research, due to the nature of its issues, was conducted with the use of qualitative research methods. The results of the conducted research showed that activities in the field of social tourism policy are conditioned by organizational solutions for the entities that undertake them, as well as economic ones, especially in the field of financing. Moreover, they made it possible to propose the concept of a model social tourism policy with an indication of its place in the European policy on the basis of the past and future EU financial perspectives.

Fundamental policy challenges influencing sustainable development in Africa

Background: There is widespread recognition on the African continent that a coherent and integrated policy response is necessary to adequately deal with issues associated with sustainable development. Despite this general recognition, it is, however, also evident that much still needs to be done to realise a coherent policy response fostered by a transgovernance approach to sustainable development.Aim: The aim of this article is to analyse the nature and scope of development policy influencing Africa’s policy responses to sustainable development challenges.Setting: Challenges associated with sustainable development transcend national borders. This requires trans-border policy responses and transgovernance. Transgovernance goes beyond conventional governance approaches and moves towards a more integrated global and continental response to address sustainability issues. The same applies to Africa as a continent.Methods: In the traditions of interpretivism, the methodology is based on a desktop analysis by means of a literature survey. The qualitative description of the findings focuses on the themes that emerge from the research and the manner in which it was conceptualised and contextualised in terms of unobtrusive research techniques.Results: Results indicate that across Africa there have been varied policy responses to sustainable development challenges. It was established that despite successes on the continent, inclusive of the establishment of various sectoral policy frameworks and coordinating mechanisms, there is still great concern for the general lack of a coordinated response to environmental concerns. Change in policy-making approaches and practices as well as changes in attitudes towards the environment are essential.Conclusion: Policy coherence on the continent is a prerequisite to promote sustainable development. Policy responses need to consider the finite nature of natural resources and the future implications of current government actions (and inactions). Policy-makers need to look forward, contemplating the interrelationship between human-driven development and the environment, and approach policy design in a fundamentally new way.

Subnational economic complexity analysis: case-study of the Kaliningrad region

Currently, the economic complexity (EC) theory is of considerable relevance. Developed and rapidly developing countries invest heavily in research and development to increase their products complexity as it brings an economy’s competitiveness and revenues to a higher level. The article presents the main results of the 2017-2019 EC analysis of a Russian exclave, the Kaliningrad region, whose trade and production specialization have changed dramatically. The study relies on the data of the Atlas of Economic Complexity, the Federal Customs Service of Russia, the Kaliningrad Regional Customs. It applies the author’s method for “cleaning” the data. The key feature of the study is the incorporation of the regional data into the global trade statistics. The analysis reveals general trends towards an increase in capabilities in low complexity products. The paper emphasizes that the regional government needs to pursue an active sectoral policy aimed at increasing the economic complexity.