Problematising scale in the study of policy
Problematising scale in the study of policy
This chapter discusses how scale is fundamental to interpreting and defining social life, and explores the implications of this for the study of policy in order to present a clear case for exploring the politics of scale in policy. Working at the crossroads of policy studies and political geography, the chapter sets out the book’s chosen conceptual approach which innovatively integrates critical policy studies with poststructuralist political geography. Specifically, the discussion critically analyses what assumptions about scale are reflected in the field of policy studies, reviews the political geography debates on scale, and outlines the book’s use of political discourse theory and the ‘critical logics of explanation’ approach (Glynos & Howarth 2007). The chapter concludes by introducing the concept of ‘scalecraft’ as a hegemonic practice of policymaking which captures how meanings of policy are co-constituted by ordering political space according to concepts of scale.
Keywords: critical policy studies, political geography, scale; practice, political discourse theory, critical logics approach, scalecraft, hegemony
Policy Press Scholarship Online requires a subscription or purchase to access the full text of books within the service. Public users can however freely search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter.
Please, subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you think you should have access to this title, please contact your librarian.
To troubleshoot, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.
