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Modernisation, Marketisation and Housing Reform: The Use of Evidence Based Policy as a Rationality Discourse. Keith Jacobs University of Tasmania Tony Manzi University of Westminster. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Modernisation, Marketisation and Housing Reform: The Use of Evidence
Based Policy as a Rationality Discourse
Keith JacobsUniversity of Tasmania
Tony ManziUniversity of Westminster
‘In everyday life ideology is at work, especially in the apparently
innocent reference to pure utility’ (Zizek, 2011: 248)
What is Evidence-Based Policy (EBP)?
• Comprehensive Analysis• Systematic Review• Framework for Evaluation• Justification for Reform
What Claims are Made for EBP?
• ‘Robust’ framework• Effective use of Research• Rationale for Intervention• Objective and scientific basis for change
EBP
• Distinction between:• ‘high ground wherein practitioners make
effective use of research-based theory and technique’
• ‘swampy lowland where situations are confusing messes incapable of technical solution’ (Schon (1983, pp.43-43)
The Research Context
• The Utilitarian Turn (Solesbury, 2001)• Instrumentalism– Academic rent-seeking?
• Contract research and commodification
EBP as Rationality Discourse
• Pragmatic, anti-ideological politics• ‘Concrete factual realism’ and ‘unvarnished
verisimilitude’ (Hood and Jackson, 1991)• ‘Retreat from priesthood’ (Pawson, 2006)• Technology as ‘vital currency’ for public policy
Role of deliberative policy making (Sullivan, 2011)
• Post hoc rationalities
Modernisation – the Stock Transfer Programme
• Evidence to win bids – e.g. deprivation etc• Extensive evaluation – ex post, ex ante• Depoliticisation - combination of managerial
common sense and community governance (Pawson and Mullins, 2010)
• Long-term migration towards the private sector
Marketisation: Housing Market Renewal
• ‘Pathfinder’ programme– Primacy of markets– Demolition
• Research and consistent lobbying• Importance of timing• Comprehensive evidence base but neglected
community impact
Housing Reform: Localism Act, 2011
• Pragmatic politics of power – reducing risk of failure
• Stigmatisation of social housing and shaping behaviour
• Discourse of financial crisis• Importance of argument rather than evidence
Instead of reaching solutions that can be judged by standards of rationality, policy making reaches settlements, reconciliations, adjustments and
agreements that one can evaluate only inconclusively by such standards as fairness,
acceptability, openness to reconsideration and responsiveness to a variety of interests. And analysis
in large part is transformed from an evaluative technique into a method of exerting influence,
control and power which we call partisan analysis (Lindblom, 1980: 122)
Conclusions
• The interdependence of power and knowledge
• Combination of managerialism, modernisation and ideology
• Implications for academia – Redefining relationship between academics and
policy makers– Reluctance to criticise policy
References• Communities and Local Government (2010) Local Decisions: a Fairer
Future for Social Housing – Consultation. London: CLG.• Hood, C. and Jackson, M. (1991) Administrative Argument. Aldershot:
Dartmouth Publishing Company.• Lindblom, C. (1980) (2nd ed) The Policy Making Process Englewood Cliifs:
Prentice Hall• Pawson, H. and Mullins, D. (2010) After Council Housing: Britain’s New
Social Landlords. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.• Schon, D. (1983) The Reflective Practitioner. New York: Basic Books.• Solesbury, W. (2001) Evidence Based Policy: Whence it Came and Where
its Going, Working Paper 1. London: ESRC UK Centre for Evidence-Based Policy and Practice.
• Sullivan, H. (2011) Truth junkies: using evaluation in UK public policy. Policy and Politics, 39, 4, 499-512.
• Zizek, S. (2011) Living in the End Times. London: Verso.