The European Semester: Democratic Weaknesses as Limits to Learning

The study of multilevel governance (MLG) is fundamentally concerned with the capacity of MLG to effectively deal with policy problems. However, the notion of problem‐solving itself remains vague. Moreover, MLG research prioritizes questions of structure and agency, while neglecting the role and nature of policy problems themselves. This symposium defines problem‐solving in both procedural and operational terms. The introduction reviews relevant attributes of policy problems and existing assumptions about their influence on problem‐solving. By adding uncertainty, tractability, and three political attributes (power, conflict, salience), we propose an extended list of attributes of policy problems that matter for problem‐solving, and link them to different notions of procedural and operational problem‐solving in MLG. The contributions address the challenges facing problem‐solving in the European Union, adopting a particular focus on the characteristics of policy problems. Empirical cases include the European Semester, Brexit, the governance of the swine flu pandemic, and climate change.

Section: The Contributions Of the Symposiummentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Contributions Of the Symposiummentioning

confidence: 99%

What's the Problem? Multilevel Governance and Problem‐Solving

Thomann¹,

Trein²,

Maggetti³

2019

“…This "joint-decision trap" is a result of the deliberate combination of self-rule and shared-rule, whereby the EU or German L€ ander delegate to the higher level while trying to retain as much competences as possible. In a similar vein, Papadopoulos and Piattoni (2019), in their contribution to this mini-symposium, argue that the asymmetric intergovernmentalism in the European Semester leads to "bargaining" rather than "learning," which is not conducive to its problem-solving capacity. Concerning the importance of actors (agency) for the passage of climate change comprehensive framework, Fleig et al (2017) look at whether more veto points (actors and structure) would make it more challenging to adopt comprehensive climate framework legislation.…”

Section: Comparative Federalism Literature and Problem-solvingmentioning

confidence: 98%

Problem‐Solving Across Literatures: Comparative Federalism and Multi‐Level Governance in Climate Change Action

Carreras¹

2019

This paper aims at making a conceptual and theoretical contribution to understanding problem‐solving capacity in multi‐level contexts. To do so, I use the framework of structure, agency, process, and outcome to systematically discuss how the literatures of comparative federalism and multi‐level governance define and analyze problem‐solving. In discussing these literatures, I also examine how concepts such as integration, functional differentiation, self‐rule, and shared‐rule have important implications for problem‐solving. Policy challenges, such as climate change, require problem‐solving at various territorial levels. To demonstrate the insight from the two literatures and to offer comprehensive theoretical implications for effective problem‐solving capacity, this paper also provides illustrative examples of climate change action and environmental policy in Germany and the EU.

“… The contributions to this symposium by Papadopoulos and Piattoni () and by Carreras‐Irepoglu () both point to how aspects of structure (polity) shape policy, but in relatively predictable manners. …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Brexit Improve Our Understanding of “Wicked Problems”? Reflections on Policy and Political Order

Fossum¹

2019

The main purpose of this article is to improve the wicked problem framework by incorporating the problem of political order, as it appears in the context of Brexit. The first part specifies what is meant by political order and highlights two core meanings: settled order, and orderliness as the presence or absence of rules. Thereafter, the article specifies what is meant by wicked problem and shows that this body of literature has not really engaged with the problem of political order. In the third section, the focus is on how and in what sense Brexit constitutes a wicked problem with reference to a set of criteria for delineating wicked problems. As part of that, it is made clear where and how matters of political order appear. In the conclusion, I discuss how we can improve the wicked problem framework by including questions of political order.