Catherine Bochel

Marginalised or Enabled Voices? ‘User Participation’ in Policy and Practice

The idea of participation has been central to many policy developments in recent years. Both Conservative and Labour governments have used notions of participation and involvement in attempts to justify and implement their social policies. Yet, despite a plethora of initiatives and guidance around ‘participation’ emerging from all levels of government, and a substantial academic literature, there remains a major, and potentially damaging, lack of clarity over many aspects of participation, while the secret of achieving ‘real’ participation appears to continue to remain elusive.

Do Women Make a Difference

Using qualitative interviews the authors analyse how women politicians at local and national level are impacting upon politics and the policy-making process and how this is affecting the nature of the political environment.

Local Political Leadership and the Modernisation of Local Government

Abstract Political leadership has been a key element of central governments attempts to ‘modernise’ local government over the past decade, within a discourse that emphasised ‘strong’ and ‘visible’ leadership and the role of leaders and leadership in driving change within local authorities. In the context of such an approach, and also taking account of academic discourse, this article draws upon interviews with nearly thirty individuals in leadership positions in local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales to assess their experiences of leadership and their views of some aspects of the role and work of councils. It suggests that whilst there is broad convergence between the aspirations of government and the narratives that emerge from these leaders on some aspects of local political leadership, there are also differences, perhaps most notably over the relationship between changes to decision-making structures and the loci of political power.

The UK social policy process

Introduction Social Policy and Social Policy Analysis Perspectives on Policy-Making Power and Policy Central Government Multi-level Governance Quasi-government Participation Evaluation Conclusion Bibliography Index

Exploring the Low Levels of Women's Representation in Japanese Local Government

Although women have consistently outvoted men in elections in Japan since the 1970s, the country has a relatively poor record in terms of women being elected to representative bodies. In recent years, there have been increases, particularly in the number of women in the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, but at the local level the rate of change has been slower. As in other states, a number of propositions have been put forward to explain the low numbers of women in local assemblies. Drawing upon a variety of sources, including the developing literature and interviews with women councillors and others, this article seeks to identify the variety of factors that have contributed to holding down levels of female representation in local government in Japan. It examines these in the context of recent changes and considers the extent to which there is the prospect for further change

Against the System? Women in Elected Local Government in Japan

Abstract Despite having a high level of voting by women, Japan has a poor record of female representation in elected government at both central and local levels. This article examines the position in local government and seeks to explore a number of possible explanations for the situation. It draws upon both theoretical and empirical work and identifies a variety of cultural, social and political barriers to women seeking election for local government. The article concludes that there are growing pressures for change including from outside the current mainstream of Japanese politics.

Social policy themes, issues and debates

The thoroughly revised and extended new edition of Social Policy: Issues and Developments provides a comprehensive introduction to contemporary British social policy, whilst acting as a complete learning resource for introductory courses and ultimately later modules of study. Written by leading experts in the field, the text explores the major topics and areas in contemporary social policy, including health, housing, work, education, crime and criminal justice, and examines the socio-economic, political and governmental contexts within which social policy operates. It also includes extensive new material that fully addresses the historical, theoretical and contextual foundations of social policy, including a brand new discussion with regards to the foundations of welfare and social policy. Prominence is given to contemporary issues, to provoke thought and draw comparisons between theory and practice; it will also cover all the essential service areas within a historical context. Issues are addressed throughout in a lively and accessible style, and examples are richly illustrated to encourages the student to engage with theory and content and clearly see the relevance of social policy in our understanding of society. A dedicated companion website supports the text and adds further value for the student.

Modernisation or backward step? Women councillors and new decision-making structures in local government

Following the 1997 general election New Labour took power with a commitment to ‘modernising’ government, including local government. This modernisation was based upon a variety of approaches including the introduction of new decision-making structures, improving local democracy, improving local financial accountability, creating a new ethical framework for councillors and council employees and improving local services. It is with the first two of these and their potential impact upon women councillors that this article is concerned. It analyses past evidence on womens participation in local government in the UK and examines the impact of the new political structures on progression to senior posts in local government.

‘Reaching in’? The potential for e-petitions in local government in the United Kingdom

ABSTRACT This article considers the extent to which petitions and e-petitions might allow citizens to ‘reach in’ to local authorities in the United Kingdom. It examines how e-petitions sit against wider debates about the use of technology and digital democracy and the extent to which petitions systems might align with traditional approaches to representative democracy. It highlights that, as with many other participative initiatives, digital or otherwise, there are a variety of issues and risks associated with e-petitions, including those associated with broad socio-economic factors, and others that are more specifically related to the use of e-petitions. However, drawing on existing examples of e-petitions systems in the United Kingdom, it suggests that, designed well, they may have potential value, not simply in terms of enabling ‘voice’ and participation, but also in helping educate and inform petitioners about local democracy and decision-making.

Process matters: petitions systems in Britain’s legislatures

ABSTRACT Over the past 15 years petitions systems have become embedded in the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales, and more recently the House of Commons. This article uses the concept of procedural justice, with its emphasis on the fairness of the process by which decisions are made, as an analytical tool to explore four case studies of petitions systems in British legislatures, considering, in particular, the extent to which they enable voice, decision-making and transparency. It illustrates that the application of ideas of procedural justice not only provides us with a useful tool for analysing petitions systems in representative political institutions, but also potentially provides a framework of ideas from which petitions systems, and perhaps other participatory initiatives, may learn.