Policy Intentions Research Articles

Bridging and breaking silos: Transformational governance of the migration-sustainability nexus.

Sustainability and migration are typically treated as discrete policy spheres in international, national, and local fora, separated in governance structures and institutions. This results in policy incoherence that hinders just transitions toward more sustainable societies cognizant of mobile realities. This explorative effort identifies the (dis)connections between policy domains using data collected on how the sustainability-migration nexus is governed in four countries with a special emphasis on urban areas: Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United States. Results of 73 interviews show that migration and sustainability actors find it challenging to see how they could be working together and that migrants are rarely conceived of as sustainability actors and/or targeted populations of sustainability policy. Despite the cross-sectoral nature of sustainability, it appears that migration and sustainability are sequestered into silos that hinder collaborative actions. Lamenting the existence of silos is not enough to encourage new lines of thinking or practice in how sustainability is governed; therefore, we examine the evidence to ascertain current barriers blocking synergetic governance and the opportunities for change perceived by respondents via three critical elements of transformations toward sustainability: structural, systemic, and enabling conditions. We argue that for sustainability transitions to happen, a wider set of societal actors needs to be included from policy intention to action, but that this transformation may require more than policy integration via horizontal coordination. It demands reflexivity and pluralistic pathways that close vertical gaps between national and municipal levels and diminish structural inequalities as they intersect with migration type and status.

The challenges of harmonising anti-doping policy implementation

ABSTRACT The policy-implementation gap conceptualises how policy intentions and outcomes often differ due to a failure to consider the realities of implementation. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) directs Olympic anti-doping policy, seeking to harmonise anti-doping policy globally; however, the realisation of consistent implementation has proven challenging. A major cause of inconsistent policy implementation is inter-signatory variation, but the mechanisms of variation are poorly understood. WADA provides an excellent example to explore why policy gaps occur in international sport governance. Consequently, we aimed to analyse the different types of inter-signatory variation in anti-doping policy and identify practical solutions to address inter-signatory variation in anti-doping. Data were collected from the Regional Anti-Doping Programme (RADO), a group of organisations tasked with increasing the capacity of NADOs globally. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 RADO staff and board members who were sampled as key informants to discuss how inter-signatory variation affects anti-doping policy compliance. Following reflexive thematic analysis, we identified four thematic categories explaining inter-signatory variation in anti-doping implementation: (1) socio-geographic, (2) political, (3) organisational, and (4) human resources. Based on our analysis, we theorise why the policy-implementation gap occurs and provide recommendations to improve anti-doping policy implementation.

A ‘Minor’ Concern: An In-Depth Analysis on the Rising Incidents and Crime Cycle of Juvenile Delinquency

This paper, titled "A Minor Concern," challenges the prevailing notion that juvenile delinquency is a minor issue, asserting its profound significance in contemporary society. Despite often being marginalised, juvenile delinquency represents a severe challenge that demands immediate and comprehensive attention. The study adopts a multi-faceted approach, beginning with an extensive literature review that exposes systemic flaws, ineffective rehabilitation methods, and socio-economic drivers of juvenile crime. This review forms a critical backdrop for understanding the depth of the issue. The research incorporates an online survey conducted through Google Forms, capturing data from juvenile justice professionals, social workers, and the general public. This survey aims to gauge perceptions and gather empirical data on the prevalence, causes, and effectiveness of current interventions, revealing discrepancies between public views and on-ground realities. Interviews with police officers from C.R. Park, Defence Colony, and Hauz Khas Police Stations provide insights into operational challenges and systemic issues within the juvenile justice system. Their perspectives underscore practical inefficiencies and the urgent need for reform. Further insights are drawn from officers at Delhi Juvenile Home, Majnu-ka-Tila, and The Observation Home for Boys-II, Sewa Kutir, Mukherjee Nagar. Their accounts of the challenges in rehabilitating juvenile offenders highlight the gap between policy intentions and practical outcomes, emphasizing the critical need for effective support and systemic change. In conclusion, "A Minor Concern" aims to demonstrate that juvenile delinquency is a significant issue requiring urgent reform. By integrating literature review, empirical data, and professional insights, the study advocates for a comprehensive revaluation of current juvenile justice practices and the development of effective, evidence-based interventions.

Towards Climate-Resilient WASH Services: A Critical Evaluation of Bangladesh’s Policy Landscape

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services are fundamental to public health and well-being, yet they face significant challenges due to climate change. In Bangladesh, these challenges are compounded by the country’s geographic vulnerability to climate-related hazards such as floods, cyclones, and sea-level rise. Bangladesh’s flat, low-lying topography, high population density, and reliance on agriculture exacerbate its susceptibility to climate-induced disasters, threatening vital sectors including water resources and infrastructure. Integrating climate resilience into WASH strategies is crucial for mitigating these impacts and ensuring sustainable development. This paper reviews national policies and strategies aimed at enhancing climate resilience in the WASH sector in Bangladesh, highlighting successful initiatives and identifying areas where further integration is necessary. The analysis reveals that Bangladesh has developed comprehensive policy frameworks, such as the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) and the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), which emphasize community-based adaptation and prioritize vulnerable populations. Despite these efforts, significant gaps exist in policy implementation, particularly concerning the alignment of financial resources with strategic objectives. The Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) has yet to fund specific WASH-related projects, highlighting a disconnect between policy intentions and practical outcomes. Institutional coordination challenges persist, with inadequate communication among government agencies responsible for WASH and climate change. However, several successful initiatives demonstrate effective integration of climate resilience into WASH services. These include UNICEF’s climate-resilient sanitation programme, which has improved access to sanitation in flood-prone areas, and community-driven approaches that leverage local knowledge and traditional practices to enhance resilience. The study employs a qualitative research approach, systematically reviewing national policy documents, strategic plans, and relevant literature. The analytical framework evaluates policy coherence, integration of climate resilience, implementation mechanisms, and stakeholder engagement. Evaluation criteria include comprehensiveness, specificity, adaptability, and effectiveness of policies in addressing climate change impacts on WASH services. Key challenges identified include policy and financing disconnects, inadequate recognition of vulnerable areas, lack of updated policies, governance and implementation gaps, over-reliance on technological solutions, and the need for localized research and data. Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach that includes updating policies, enhancing governance structures, ensuring adequate financing, promoting community engagement, and conducting localized research.

Plastic packaging regulations in Padang: Bridging the gap between policy intentions and real-world implementation

The issue of plastic waste, particularly stemming from packaging materials, has emerged as a global concern across various regions. This issue has also gained prominence in Indonesia, exemplified by the city of Padang. Despite the enactment of Regulation No. 36 of 2018 by the Mayor of Padang, aimed at curtailing plastic bag usage, the practical implementation of this measure has proven to be less than satisfactory. Therefore, this study seeks to examine the implementation of this regulation in Padang using literature review and descriptive methods. This study aims to unravel the intricacies of the implementation of the regulation, and to shed light on the challenges and obstacles encountered. By conducting a comprehensive examination, this research aspires to provide valuable insights into devising pragmatic solutions to enhance the efficacy of plastic packaging reduction initiatives in Padang. Ultimately, this study seeks to contribute constructively towards surmounting extant challenges and formulating more potent strategies to mitigate the deleterious repercussions of plastic waste in the city of Padang.

SHAH MOHAMMED REZA PAHLAVI AND AYATOLLAH KHOMEINI: IN LIGHT OF SHI'I HISTORY

The Iranian Revolution talks about to happenings involving the rebellion of the Pahlavi dynasty under Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, who was held up by the United States, and its subsequent removal with an Islamic Revolution of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who was helped by various leftist and Islamist organizations and Iranian student movements. The Iranian Revolution was a mainstream, nationalist and Shi’a Islamic revolution that ousted an autocratic kingdom with a theocracy built on “Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists” (or velayat-e faqih). This research goes to light the relationship between Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi and Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran, in the context of Shi'i history. This research paper hypothesizes three types of human relationships which are grounded on, the exchange system, the integrative system, and the threat system. Reza Khan (the father of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi) had established it through a military coup d'etat in 1921; the threat system looked to lead in Iran throughout the Pahlavi rule which was finished in December, 1979 by Ayatollah Khomeini. Under threat system, detachment and legality occur as major variables. Actions, events, writings, and vocalizations of main community figures are engaged to establish the inequality between intent and outcome of the Shah's policies, and between world views and consequent activities of the Shah and Khomeini. This paper also argues the nature of the rule of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, and into the role of Ayatollah Khomeini as voice of the opposition, charismatic leader, and as "prince" who legitimates his own threat system.

Head teacher perspectives on school lunch: At variance with national policy

Objective: Previous research indicates that head teachers in Sweden frequently fail to see school lunch as part of the educational activities of a school. This study contributes to an understanding of how head teachers in Sweden perceive and experience current national policy intentions related to school lunch. Design: Qualitative inquiry. Setting: Ten municipal state schools in Sweden. Method: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 head teachers responsible for the compulsory education of 6- to 15-year-olds in state schools. Data from digitally recorded and transcribed interviews were thematically analysed. Results: Head teachers primarily saw school lunch as a means to ensure pupils were fed and energised. Their focus tended to be on what followed after school lunch in the form of academic performance and mood, rather than the stated intentions of national school meal policy. Head teachers stressed the value of a free and nutritious school lunch for social equality, and the importance of good collaboration with food service managers and school meal personnel, despite the difficulty of achieving this. Conclusion: This paper highlights a gap between head teachers’ perspectives with respect to school lunch and official intentions stated in Swedish national school meals policy. The meanings head teachers saw as connected to school lunch were those of social equality and ensuring pupils were fed, rather than the wider potential envisioned by the authorities. This paper identifies factors that affect the possibility of realising national policy intentions for school lunch in Sweden.

‘Caste Census’ to Dismantle ‘Group Inequalities’

The caste system in India continues to endure, resulting in around 85% of the people experiencing socio-economic disadvantages. The process of systematic exclusion renders the policy intentions devoid of acknowledgement towards the demands of communities that have been historically marginalised. Conducting a comprehensive census of castes is necessary to foster inclusivity within India, as it enables the recognition and subsequent mitigation of entrenched disparities that persist due to factors such as caste affiliations, religious distinctions, gender disparities, ethnic variations, and racial differences. The transition from a focus on ‘Political Citizenship’ to ‘Social Citizenship’ via the implementation of inclusive policies is paramount in pursuing a more equal and just society.

Health promotion policy in Australian universities – a smoke-free policies case study

ABSTRACT Ensuring public spaces and institutions are healthy and encourage health promotion is an important public health initiative. Universities in Australia have begun to introduce policies that support health promotion activities. This study explores one such area of health promotion activity, the introduction of university tobacco policies. This research documents the aims of these policies, their development, and whether their implementation aligns with the stated goals. Policy and supporting documents were downloaded from the public facing websites of 23 Australian universities identified as having tobacco policy. Policies were analysed using a purpose-built policy and document analysis tool that allowed the examination of the motivations and processes behind the policy development and an exploration of consistencies across policy objectives. This research found that policy background and legislative obligations were clearly and uniformly stated, as were the smoke-free policy goals. Some universities provided clear policy intent, such as measurable goals or links between motivation, goals, and outcomes; however, many of the policies and supporting documents did not demonstrate key aspects of the policy process. This research should be encouraging for the increasing number of educational institutions that are developing health promoting policies, but it is also a timely reminder that policy development processes should be more transparent, documenting motivation and incorporating evaluation, to ensure they are fully understood and sustainable. This research reveals the need for further detailed policy analysis within the university setting and other organisational settings to better understand what sits behind the policy landscape visible through publicly available documentation.

Possibilities, Perceptions and Practices: Visibilising the Impact of Flexible Learning Spaces

Abstract In recent years, school building policy in New Zealand has emphasised the development of flexible learning spaces (fls). Through deliberate design choices, flexible learning spaces are intended to promote student-centred and collaborative teaching practice, creating an innovative learning environment which is adaptable and future-focussed. However, this intended practice is not always realised. This article draws on data from a study examining the practice of seven English teachers working in a flexible learning space in one New Zealand secondary school. Using Lefebvre’s spatial triad of conceived, perceived and lived space, the author will argue that elements of the learning space are imbued with layers of visual symbolism, highlighting the tensions between the rhetoric and the reality of innovative practice in flexible learning spaces. While the policy intent of the flexible learning space is made visible through elements of its design, the use of the space by teachers and students indicates that their visual interpretations of these elements can serve to reinforce teaching and learning practices that flexible learning spaces are designed to disrupt. These findings highlight that teachers require increased spatial competence and critical awareness of visual learning space elements to maximise the potential of fls for innovative teaching and learning.

Riding the tides: Directions in mental health rehabilitation in NSW.

This paper outlines the evolution of mental health rehabilitation in NSW, where allocation of health resources has repeatedly contradicted the policy intention to reorient services from inpatient to community-based services, leaving community rehabilitation the poor and disconnected cousin of inpatient services. The expanding role of community-managed organisations (CMOs) in psychosocial rehabilitation, the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and emerging service models have helped foster a maturing housing and social care environment, but present reality and the integration of health and social care services remains at a distance from best evidence practice. The challenge of the next decade of mental health reform is to embrace and consolidate greater service diversity and complexity. Understanding what factors influenced present reality is important in providing guardrails for the future, enabling the current wave of renewal and reinvestment in NSW to build on the strengths of past developments and steer a course around their weaknesses.

Policy work in educational leadership courses: university teachers’ interpretations, translations and engagements

ABSTRACT This study investigates policy work in educational leadership courses at universities. It analyses the types of engagement present in university teachers’ policy work and in their interpretations and translations of policy intentions into teaching designs and practices. The study illustrates policy work as a phenomenon and draws on the theory of policy work; it examines one case from Norway and one from California. The data has been analysed through discourse analysis. Observational data and materials from teaching practices constituted the supporting data, while contextual interviews with university teachers formed the main data. In both cases, various types of engagement were identified, which reflected academic freedom and different policy contexts. The analysis also revealed that university lecturers use their professional discretion and experience when interpreting and translating policy intentions into teaching designs and practices. This has implications for higher education administration, especially for the achievement of coherence across programmes and courses.

Policy and Strategic Responses to Food and Nutrition Security in Ethiopia.

Food and nutrition insecurity continues to be one of the persistent challenges in Ethiopia. The country has been responding to the challenges in various ways to foster sustainable development. The objective of the study is to assess national food and nutrition security policy and strategic responses. A qualitative review of policies, strategies, programs, guidelines, and a government commitment, document was conducted. Interviews with experts from food and nutrition-implementing governmental and nongovernmental organizations were also employed. Thematic analysis with description was used. The results of the study revealed that global initiatives stimulated Ethiopia to progressively take various strategic directions to address the ongoing food and nutrition challenges. In addition to various policy directions, the country has been implementing nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programs under the multisectoral approach. The concepts and practices of food and nutrition security shifted from simply balancing the demand and supply of food to a broader and more inclusive food system approach with the involvement of multiple actors. However, more has been said than done. The policy, strategic objectives, and initiatives have not been adequately translated into practices. Actions toward ensuring food and nutrition security, on the other hand, are constrained by institutional, environmental, technological, and emerging priorities like an outbreak of a pandemic and political instability. The study concluded that available policy and strategic intents have sufficiently addressed food and nutrition challenges in documents and need to be fully translated into practices.

To ignore or mitigate – Economic implications of an illegal artisanal trawl fishery in northern Peru

An artisanal shrimp trawl fishery operating illegally in northern Peru has high levels of bycatch and three main commercial species. Here we provide the first characterisation of the socio-economic contribution of this fishery. Estimates have been generated for the capital values, operational and maintenance costs, as well as net profits at point of landing and across the value chain. This fleet sector in northern Peru is estimated at 105 vessels, generating an annual gross income of U$D 4.8 million with 315 direct jobs. Vessel owners could potentially have a net income of over ∼$12,000 per year, and crew are likely to be earning 45 % above the living wage for similar land-based rural employment, including other fishing activities operating in the same areas. With an appropriate multiplier for the seafood supply chain, the gross economic value of the fishery from landings up to the retail level is estimated at U$D 35 million with 915 jobs. Recommendations for improving the sustainability of the fishery and possible mitigations are discussed to address the gulf between policy and regulatory intent and reality, where enforcement is lacking or absent.

Policy intents and the enactment of inclusion in prestigious schools in urban China: can equity and excellence coexist?

ABSTRACT This article addresses the policy intents regarding inclusive education in the Chinese basic education sector, prestigious school principals’ and teachers’ understanding of inclusion, and their current enactment of inclusion in delivering education. Through document analysis and semi-structured interviews, we find that inclusion in China can be understood in two broad categories. One concerns even development and equal access to educational opportunities between regions of different economic development, while the other concerns equal rights and educational opportunities between students with special educational needs and students in regular classrooms. In terms of enactment, the teachers and principals at the prestigious schools sampled focus on different issues to those highlighted in policy documents. Inclusion is often discussed in relation to competition, quality, and outcomes in the schools, rather than access to education and the learning process. When it comes to inclusion criteria, prestigious schools substantively exert their influence to exclude certain students, due to their self-image of excellence. However, based on the ideology of human capital theory, excellence and equity are not seen as incompatible goals in the Chinese educational system.

From recipe to enquiry – a curriculum tool for science teachers to align policy with practice in practical lessons

ABSTRACT Internationally, second level curriculum policy for STEM education is concentrating its efforts on promoting curriculum-making pedagogies, with enquiry-based teaching and learning at the forefront of this change. Policy aspirations have not translated well into practice, evidenced by science practical lessons consistently being delivered as recipes to be followed. In recognition of this, national STEM policies are calling for quality pedagogical resources that can support teachers to engage in teaching practical work through scientific enquiry. This article describes how Design Based Research was used as a methodology to create and evaluate a resource, the Structured Enquiry Observation Schedule (SEOS), as a tool to identify student achievement of procedural (enquiry and laboratory) skills in practical biology lessons. Data collected using the SEOS, was triangulated with interview, video and audio data over three iterative research cycles. Findings indicated that the SEOS provides a lens to compare and align policy intentions with classroom enactment of practical work by identifying the basic procedural skills that should underpin any enquiry-based practical lesson, and by highlighting the importance of student attainment of those skills. If used by practising teachers, it has potential to answer calls for quality resources to support the transition to enquiry-based science pedagogy.

Banks’ net interest rate spread and the transmission of monetary policy in Korea

In the transmission of monetary policy, banks’ administered interest rates set by their market power may not coordinate well with the policy intention. In this study, we examine the effect of banks’ net interest rate spread (NIS) on real economic growth in response to changes in the benchmark interest rate in Korea. We find that the market power component of the NIS interacting with the benchmark rate significantly affects the prediction of future economic growth, especially under loosening monetary policy. Our findings indicate that when the policy interest rate decreases to boost the economy, monopolistic banks widen the NIS by sluggishly adjusting the lending rate, which dampens the growth effect. This misalignment remains consistent when we focus on the subperiod after the 2008 financial crisis and use alternative measures for our main variables.

Impact of Transformational Leadership on the Achievement of Objectives in the Implementation of New Educational Policies: A Literature Review

This literature review examines the impact of transformational leadership on the achievement of objectives in the implementation of new educational policies. Drawing on a comprehensive analysis of existing research, this study explores the pivotal role that transformational leadership plays in shaping the outcomes of policy initiatives within educational settings. The review delves into the theoretical foundations of transformational leadership, its key attributes, and its potential to drive positive change in policy execution. Through a comparative analysis of empirical studies, the review demonstrates how transformational leaders inspire and motivate stakeholders, fostering a shared vision and commitment to policy objectives. By establishing open communication channels, encouraging innovation, and cultivating a culture of collaboration, transformational leaders can facilitate the alignment of educational practices with policy intentions. Furthermore, the review examines the contextual factors that may influence the relationship between transformational leadership and policy success, offering insights into the conditions under which transformational leadership is most effective. The findings of this review contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which transformational leadership influences policy outcomes. By shedding light on the interplay between leadership behaviors and policy implementation, this study provides valuable insights for educational leaders, policymakers, and researchers seeking to enhance the efficacy of new educational policies through effective leadership strategies

The efficacy of Facebook's vaccine misinformation policies and architecture during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Online misinformation promotes distrust in science, undermines public health, and may drive civil unrest. During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, Facebook-the world's largest social media company-began to remove vaccine misinformation as a matter of policy. We evaluated the efficacy of these policies using a comparative interrupted time-series design. We found that Facebook removed some antivaccine content, but we did not observe decreases in overall engagement with antivaccine content. Provaccine content was also removed, and antivaccine content became more misinformative, more politically polarized, and more likely to be seen in users' newsfeeds. We explain these findings as a consequence of Facebook's system architecture, which provides substantial flexibility to motivated users who wish to disseminate misinformation through multiple channels. Facebook's architecture may therefore afford antivaccine content producers several means to circumvent the intent of misinformation removal policies.

The effectiveness of foreign exchange interventions in Japan

This study informs the academic and policy debate on the policy effectiveness of exchange rate interventions on exchange rate levels and volatility. Using a constructed data set comprising daily data on exchange rates, monetary policy fundamentals, exchange rate intervention dates and magnitudes of those interventions as well as financial news speculation of such interventions, we empirically estimate the policy effectiveness of Bank of Japan interventions in the exchange rate over the 12-year period between 2010 and 2022. This allows us to investigate the policy effectiveness of a variety of exchange rate interventions, or news of exchange rate interventions, across different time-horizons. We find that policy interventions in the yen exchange rate are more effective over short-horizons than long-horizons, more effective when the policy objective is a competitive devaluation of the yen rather than a revaluation, and more effective at influencing the level of the yen against major world currencies other than the US dollar. In fact, for the yen-dollar rate, we find that policy interventions may have the unintended consequences of weakening the yen (when the policy intention is to strengthen it) and increasing volatility in the yen-dollar exchange rate.