‘Critically assess one of the theoretical perspectives examined in the course. How does that perspective enhance our understanding of the Irish Public policy process?’
Theories Essay –
‘Critically assess one of the theoretical perspectives examined in the course. How does that perspective enhance our understanding of the Irish Public policy process?’
The theoretical perspective which will be discussed in this essay is “Europeanisation”. A definition and understanding of the subject is necessary before one describes how it has affected our public policy process. In this essay the aims will be to gain an understanding of the subject, discuss the positives having regard towards Ireland membership of the EU, compare and contrast the different political and policy changes which have occurred as a result of this, and then finally to answer the question put forward, how does Europeanisation enhance our understanding of the Irish public policy process?.
Europeanisation has a broad definition according to Claudio M. Radaelli in “Europeanisation: Solution or Problem?” as the following: “Europeanisation consists of processes of a) construction b)diffusion and c) institutionalisation of formal and informal rules, procedures, policy paradigms, styles, ‘ways of doing things’ and shared beliefs and norms which are first defined and consolidated in the EU policy process and then incorporated in the logic of domestic (national & subnational) discourse, political structures and public policies.” (Radaelli, 2004, pg5)
This as mentioned gives a very broad definition of the theory, which covers the subject as a whole; it gives a very good understanding of it but is not specific enough from a policy point of view. A more policy orientated definition is given by Jane O’Mahony were she states “Europeanisation as a conceptual tool has widely been used to analyse the domestic impact of the EU. This term refers to how the EU influences the policies, politics and polity of each of its constituent states.” (O’Mahony, 2007, pg4) Adding to this Ladrech defined this same process as a “process re-orientating the direction and shape of
‘Critically assess one of the theoretical perspectives examined in the course. How does that perspective enhance our understanding of the Irish Public policy process?’
The theoretical perspective which will be discussed in this essay is “Europeanisation”. A definition and understanding of the subject is necessary before one describes how it has affected our public policy process. In this essay the aims will be to gain an understanding of the subject, discuss the positives having regard towards Ireland membership of the EU, compare and contrast the different political and policy changes which have occurred as a result of this, and then finally to answer the question put forward, how does Europeanisation enhance our understanding of the Irish public policy process?.
Europeanisation has a broad definition according to Claudio M. Radaelli in “Europeanisation: Solution or Problem?” as the following: “Europeanisation consists of processes of a) construction b)diffusion and c) institutionalisation of formal and informal rules, procedures, policy paradigms, styles, ‘ways of doing things’ and shared beliefs and norms which are first defined and consolidated in the EU policy process and then incorporated in the logic of domestic (national & subnational) discourse, political structures and public policies.” (Radaelli, 2004, pg5)
This as mentioned gives a very broad definition of the theory, which covers the subject as a whole; it gives a very good understanding of it but is not specific enough from a policy point of view. A more policy orientated definition is given by Jane O’Mahony were she states “Europeanisation as a conceptual tool has widely been used to analyse the domestic impact of the EU. This term refers to how the EU influences the policies, politics and polity of each of its constituent states.” (O’Mahony, 2007, pg4) Adding to this Ladrech defined this same process as a “process re-orientating the direction and shape of
Bibliography: Radaelli, Claudio M., ‘Europeanisation: Solution or Problem, European Integration online Papers’ (EIoP), Vol. 8, No. 16. [OnlineAvailable at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=601163, Date Accessed: 27/10/2013, 1:15pm Jane O 'Mahony (2007), ‘Europeanisation as Implementation’: The Impact of the European Union on Environmental Policy‐making in Ireland, Irish Political Studies, 22:3, 265-285, DOI: 10.1080/01629770701526995. [Online] Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01629770701526995. Date Accessed: 27/10/2013 Olsen, J. P. (2002), ‘The Many Faces of Europeanization. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies’, 40: 921–952. doi: 10.1111/1468-5965.00403. [Online] Available at: http://ams.hi.is/sites/ams.hi.is/files/olsen_2002_the_many_faces_of_europeanization.pdf . Date Accessed: 28/10/2013, 12:00pm Maura Adshead ; Michelle Millar (2003), ‘Public administration and public policy in Ireland theory and methods’, London ; New York : Routledge, 182-200 David L Coombes (1983), ‘Ireland and the European Communities: ten years of membership’, Goldenbridge, Dublin: Gill and Macmillan, pg1-43 Impact of EU membership on Ireland, European Commission (2011), [Online], Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/ireland/ireland_in_the_eu/impact_of_membership_on_ireland/index_en.htm. Date Accessed: 29/10/2013, 5pm Brendan Flynn (2003), ‘The Europeanization of Irish environmental policy: the triumph of policy style over substance?’ [Online], Available at: http://aei.pitt.edu/6490/1/001525_1.PDF, Date Accessed 30/10/2013, 9:30am MacCarthaigh (2013), Reform of Public Policy-making in Ireland, [Online], Available at: http://www.ssisi.ie/MacCarthaigh_March_2013_SSISI.pdf, Date Accessed: 30/10/2013, 10:30am