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Relational Philosophy and Practice in Policy Analysis

Governance
Policy Analysis
Political Theory
Public Administration
Qualitative
Normative Theory
Policy Change
Policy Implementation
P319
Koen Bartels
University of Birmingham
Koen Bartels
University of Birmingham

Building: BL16 Georg Morgenstiernes hus, Floor: 2, Room: GM 206

Saturday 11:00 - 12:40 CEST (09/09/2017)

Abstract

The time has come to reclaim relationships from the sociologists. Whereas sociology has a long tradition of relational thinking and analysis, there now is a rapidly growing number of studies of relationships in policy analysis, public administration and related fields. A multitude of approaches has been developed to analyze multi-actor interdependencies and relational dynamics in street level bureaucracy, citizen participation, collaborative public management, network governance, social policy and welfare, political economy, and so on. And also in practice a range of reports emphasize that authentic relationships are vital to effective and democratic governance. However, widespread appreciation and understanding of relationality is still lacking. So what does it mean to take a relational approach? A key distinction to make is between studies which analyse and conceptualise how relationships manifest themselves and matter and studies driven by relational philosophy which make epistemic arguments about relationality. Whereas in the former relationality is seen as key unit of analysis, in the latter it signifies a new ontological, epistemological, methodological and ethical grounding for the theory and practice of policy and administration. Drawing on the relational philosophies of Mary Follett, Jane Addams, Pierre Bourdieu, Mikhail Bakhtin, and others, the latter studies seek to highlight the dynamic, pluralist, and contested nature of governance practices as well as develop criteria to evaluate the quality of relationships and capacities to improve these. The goal of this panel is to further clarify what relational philosophy has to offer to policy analysis and how it can be employed. It aims to generate a conversation about the following questions: • What different relational philosophies are there? • What is the added value of a philosophical approach over more descriptive analyses? • How can philosophical assumptions about relationality be linked to empirical data? • Why should we take a normative approach to relationality? • What are the implications of relational philosophy for practice? • In which ways is relational philosophy critical, progressive, and democratic? The panel will include papers with a more theoretical or philosophical focus as well as empirical studies with a philosophical grounding. Attention will also be paid to methodological reflection and ambitions for critical, progressive and democratic change.

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