Cultural Heritage Policy in Wales & Québec
DEPT/SUBJECT AREA - Political & Cultural Studies
SUPERVISOR(S) - Dr Dion Curry & Professor Jonathan Bradbury
RESEARCH DEGREE (PhD)
THESIS TITLE - Exploring the Significance of Epistemic Communities for the Development of Multi-Level Governance Arrangements: Cultural Heritage Policy in Wales & Québec
SYNOPSIS
My study hypotheses that experts (conceptualised using the epistemic communities framework) significantly contribute to the development and spread of multi-level forms of governance.
Furthermore, it is suggested that epistemic communities can enhance policy legitimation within multi-level governance (MLG) systems by encouraging participatory forms of governance and subsidiarity, particularly in cases of divergent policy preferences between two identity groupings.
I will utilise a comparative case study approach, employing a ‘most-similar’ cases model, which includes extensive semi-structured interviews with a range of participants and supported by process tracing methods. The case study areas concern recent cultural heritage legislation within Wales and Québec respectively.
Theoretically, this work aims to demonstrate a mutually-reinforcing relationship between epistemic communities and multi-level governance, with the former a potential evolutionary driver of the latter.
Practically, I hope to show the deeper consequences of expert engagement in public policymaking, informing current debates on the role and value of experts.
CONFERENCE PAPERS
Electing the Experts? An Examination of the Potential for Elected Scientific Advisors in the UK. Panel: Exploring alternative forms of knowledge. ECPR General Conference, University of Hamburg, Hamburg; 22-25 August 2018
PUBLICATIONS
Contributed to the writing of a Brexit Briefing Paper for the Political Analysis and Governance Research Group entitled Ensuring the United Kingdom remains the best place for science and innovation.
FUNDING
ESRC Wales Doctoral Training Partnership Global Language-Based Area Studies Studentship
FURTHER INFORMATION
Vice-Chair of my local community council of Manordeilo & Salem after having been a councillor for the last six years.