The quest for complex policy : exploring the tensions between simplification and complexification in public policymaking / Hans Joosse.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Joosse, Hans, 1992- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political planning.

Policy sciences.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (160 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

The Hague, Netherlands : Eleven, [2022]

Summary:

"Governments often present societal problems simpler than they are. In public policy, problems are bound, extracted from their context, and provided with one-dimensional solutions. As demonstrated in this book, 'criminal youth groups' must be imprisoned, and the municipal transport service must get passengers from A to B as quickly as possible. Because of these simplifications, policy becomes superficial, often with disappointing results. This book searches for an alternative policy orientation that accommodates the entanglement and multi-dimensionality of societal problems in public policy. Using philosophical reflections, Public Administration literature and three in-depth case studies, the author shows how 'complex policy' better fits the late-modern society and produces innovative and rich results. He also analyses the tensions of complexifying policy in an organisational context of institutionalised simplicity. Simplification reflexes threaten the space for and results of complexification. Policymakers should be ambidextrous: accommodating complexity in public policy while being responsive to the institutional need for simplicity"--Page 4 of cover.

Contents:

Intro

Contents

1 Complexity and Public Policy

1.1 Welcoming the Danger

1.2 The Problem of Complexity and Policymaking

1.3 Researching Simplification and Complexification

1.4 Introducing the Case Studies

1.4.1 Case 1: Transforming Station Square in Utrecht

1.4.2 Case 2: Redesigning Mobility Transport Service in Rotterdam

1.4.3 Case 3: Reducing the Number of Criminal Youth Groups

1.5 Position in the Field of Public Administration

1.6 Outline of This Book

2 The Evolution of Knowledge

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Design: Three Case Studies

2.2.1 Case Characteristics

2.2.2 Case Selection

2.2.3 Insider's Perspective

2.2.4 Interviews and Documents

2.2.5 Building Case Narratives

2.3 The Evolution of Knowledge

2.4 The Quality of Knowledge

2.4.1 Transferability

2.4.2 Credibility

2.4.3 Confirmability

2.4.4 Dependability

2.4.5 Additional Criteria

3 Simplification

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Setting the Scene: 'Seeing Like a State'

3.2.1 Examples

3.2.2 Characteristics

3.3 Philosophy: The Machine Worldview

3.4 Theory: Simplification of Policymaking

3.4.1 Simplification of Policy Content

3.4.2 Simplification of Policy Processes

3.4.3 Simplification of Policy Structures

3.4.4 Summary

3.5 Practice: Empirical Manifestations of Simplification

3.5.1 The Station Square

3.5.2 Mobility Transport Service

3.5.3 Criminal Youth Groups

3.6 Analysis of the Cases

3.6.1 Content of Policymaking

3.6.2 Processes of Policymaking

3.6.3 Structures of Policymaking

3.6.4 Highlighting Some Elements of Simplification

3.7 Conclusion

4 Complexification

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Setting the Scene: The Idea of Increasing Complexity

4.3 Philosophy: The Complex System Worldview

4.4 Theory: Complexification of Policymaking.

4.4.1 Complexification of Policy Content

4.4.2 Complexification of Policy Processes

4.4.3 Complexification of Policy Structures

4.4.4 Summary

4.5 Practice: Empirical Manifestations of Complexification

4.5.1 The Station Square Utrecht

4.5.2 The Mobility Transport Service

4.5.3 Criminal Youth Groups

4.6 Analysis of the Cases

4.6.1 Policy Content

4.6.2 Policy Process

4.6.3 Policy Structure

4.6.4 Highlighting Some Elements of Complexification

4.7 Conclusion

5 Empirical Intermezzo

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Case 1: The Station Square

5.3 Case 2: Mobility Transport Service

5.4 Case 3: Criminal Youth Groups

6 Strengths and Weaknesses

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Simplification

6.2.1 Targeted Action and Problem-Solving

6.2.2 Policy Poverty

6.2.3 Boundary Interferences

6.2.4 Undesired Path-Dependency

6.3 Complexification

6.3.1 Policy Enrichment

6.3.2 Network Empowerment

6.3.3 Collaborative Innovation

6.3.4 Lack of Clarity and Grip

6.3.5 Regime Alienation

6.4 Conclusion

7 Dialectics

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Dialectics in Time

7.2.1 Ebb and Flow

7.2.2 Cat and Dog

7.3 Dialectics in Place

7.4 Combining Time and Place

7.5 Evaluating the Dialectics

7.6 Conclusion

8 Conclusion

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Conclusions

8.2.1 The Potential of Complexifying Policy

8.2.2 The Poverty of Simplicity

8.2.3 Theoretical Movements Towards Complexification

8.2.4 Complexification in a Context of Institutional Simplicity

8.2.5 Looking for a Pragmatic Integration

8.3 Reflection

8.3.1 Simplification and Complexification: Beyond Simplicity

8.3.2 A Rationalist Perspective on Policy?

8.4 Implications for Theory and Practice

8.4.1 Exploring the Art of Improvisation

8.4.2 Handling the Organizational Tensions in Dealing with Complex Issues.

8.4.3 Beyond the Splitting of Simplification and Complexification in Public Policymaking

8.4.4 Developing a Critical-Reflective Attitude in Public Administration

8.4.5 Important Ingredients for Researching Complex Policy Processes

References

Attachments.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9789051894509

9051894503

OCLC:

1373987503