Search Results

: Pressure Groups and Parties: A ‘Haze of Common Knowledge’ or the Empirical Advance of the Discipline?

Jeremy Richardson

in The British Study of Politics in the Twentieth Century

The central paradox in reviewing the contribution of British political scientists to the understanding of these intermediary institutions is that both the number of scholars and the output have been ... More

The central paradox in reviewing the contribution of British political scientists to the understanding of these intermediary institutions is that both the number of scholars and the output have been considerable, yet the international impact has been relatively modest. Two explanations seem plausible. First, with a few notable exceptions, the centre of gravity of these studies has coincided with the centre of gravity of British political science as a whole – it is largely atheoretical in its research style. A second possible explanation is that studies in these fields have tended to focus on activities (of groups and social movements) or on office-holding (parties) and have been much less interested in power as a concept. Relatively little is known about the effects that this activity has on outcomes in terms of public policy or the distribution of power in society.Less

The ‘Milky Way’ of intermediary organisations: a transnational field of university governance

Kerstin Sahlin, Filip Wijkström, Lisa Dellmuth, Torbjörn Einarsson, and Achim Oberg

Chris Ansell and Jacob Torfing (eds)

in How Does Collaborative Governance Scale?

This chapter focuses on transnational intermediary organizations in higher education and research. We conceive of intermediaries as organizations that are actively involved in transnational ... More

This chapter focuses on transnational intermediary organizations in higher education and research. We conceive of intermediaries as organizations that are actively involved in transnational university governance without having formal access to or control over policy or governmental funding. Such intermediary organizations have in previous research been shown to play central roles in the development and circulation of new themes and ideas for how to manage universities and measure university performance. Intermediaries link different types of actors and act as translators of global themes. In this respect, they are decisive in policy formulation.Less

Master of my Domain: The Politics of Internet Governance

Daniel Paré

in Inside the Communication Revolution: Evolving Patterns of Social and Technical Interaction

Because Internet use has become widespread and there is an increase in the range of its applications, this implies that the outcome of alternative types of governance will have major consequences for ... More

Because Internet use has become widespread and there is an increase in the range of its applications, this implies that the outcome of alternative types of governance will have major consequences for a growing number of Internet users. There have already been several international, national, and regional debates regarding the appropriate forms of governance for the Internet. This chapter introduces the notion of domain names as a means for virtual identification and how these serve as intermediary organisations for Internet users. The discussion presented in this chapter focuses on the case of the formation of Nominet UK by examining the organisational, commercial, and technical factors that are attributed to governance and social dynamics.Less

Psychologists Working in Intermediary Organizations

Kenneth I. Maton

in Influencing Social Policy: Applied Psychology Serving the Public Interest

This chapter depicts the policy influence activities of psychologists who work for intermediary organizations. Fourteen psychologists identified their greatest policy success as occurring through ... More

This chapter depicts the policy influence activities of psychologists who work for intermediary organizations. Fourteen psychologists identified their greatest policy success as occurring through such work. The 14 case examples are organized by the type of intermediary organization in which the psychologist worked: professional membership organization; the national academies; research, evaluation, and consulting organizations; and foundations. The case examples highlight the specific methods and skills employed by individual psychologists in these four types of intermediary organizations. Major differences in policy focus and methods exist across the case narratives in the chapter, in part due to fundamental differences in mission and culture across the four types of intermediary organizations. Nonetheless, although particular applications may differ, the core policy skills of relationship-building, communication, research, and strategic analysis are central to effective policy work in each context.Less

Expecting More: Changing Governance of Public Research

Bruce Currie-Alder

in Research for the Developing World: Public Funding from Australia, Canada, and the UK

Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom all experienced a market-inspired shift in how and why the government supports publicly funded research, exposing research funders to new and different ... More

Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom all experienced a market-inspired shift in how and why the government supports publicly funded research, exposing research funders to new and different expectations. The advent of market-inspired governance of public research changed the operating context as governments increasingly sought to direct their investments to areas expected to generate higher returns. As governments scaled back on their own scientific capacity, universities rose to prominence in the landscape for public research. Funders faced pressure to rationalize their expenditures by identifying goals that complement their government’s priorities, demonstrating their own performance in designing strategies and programs, and scrutinizing the value and cost-effectiveness of the work they support.Less

Redefining Silk Roads: Social Businesses and Crafts as Approaches for Improving Women’s Situations in Central Asia

Jildyz Urbaeva

in Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprises in Economic and Social Development

In this chapter on “Redefining Silk Roads: Social Businesses and Crafts as Approaches for Improving Women’s Situations in Central Asia,” the authors show how social entrepreneurship is only starting ... More

In this chapter on “Redefining Silk Roads: Social Businesses and Crafts as Approaches for Improving Women’s Situations in Central Asia,” the authors show how social entrepreneurship is only starting to evolve in Central Asian countries. Women experience multiple barriers to starting and carrying out social businesses successfully: a lack of capital, underdeveloped policies, and limited access to markets within the region and beyond. Despite these significant challenges, there are factors suggesting strong potential for success in the long term, such as local expertise and skills, access to training, and the support of international development organizations. Projects that have been implemented previously suggest the need for intermediary organizations that can increase access to global markets, advocate on behalf of social businesses, and improve access to capital investments. Improving social entrepreneurship models in the region will have not only financial and social gains for women and their communities; importantly, these models can provide psychosocial benefits as well, such as increasing women’s autonomy within the household and their ability for collective efficacy.Less