The role of experts in forming family policy under an adversarial subsystem in the Czech Republic

Abstract

This article analyzes the interplay between policymakers and scientists in developing the Family Policy Plan for the Czech Republic in 2017. As former members of the government commission that developed the plan, we base the article on participatory observation. When we joined the commission, a 'window of opportunity' had opened as the country for the first time ever had feminist-friendly minister and vice-minister of labour and social affairs. We explain why due to the inter-and intra-party dynamics, the parental leave reform to introduce 'daddy months' failed. We argue an adversarial subsystem existed in that the three coalition partners disagreed on the reform. According to Ingold and Gschwend ( 2014), under such circumstances, scientists play a strategic role, especially if there is unity among them. However, although there was basic unity among the scientists in the commission, the coalition partners at the governing level were able to block or water down the reform proposal under the study.

Exploring resistance in family policy transfer: a comparative analysis of the Czech Republic and South Korea

“…The expert committee that formulated the Family Policy Plan revisited this issue and proposed a reform modelled after Nordic solutions (cf. Saxonberg et al, 2023). However, this proposal was omitted from the final version, which instead suggested an alternating bonus (st r ıdac ı bonus) based on the German model.…”

“…The expert committee that formulated the Family Policy Plan revisited this issue and proposed a reform modelled after Nordic solutions (cf. Saxonberg et al. , 2023).…”

Early-Career Women Academics: Between Neoliberalism and Gender Conservatism

“…Moreover, the public discourse on childcare is controlled by experts (mainly popular psychologists), who claim collective care has a negative impact on early child development (e.g. up to the age of 3) (for details see Hašková and Dudová, 2017; Saxonberg et al, 2012). There are limited spaces available in affordable preschool services (and very few for children under age 3).…”

What Is Early Childhood Education and Care For? How ECEC for Children up to the Age of Three Is (Not) Discussed in the Czech Republic

“…např. Hamplová et al, 2003;Hašková a Dudová, 2017;Hašková a Saxonberg, 2016;Hašková a Uhde, 2009;Hašková et al, 2012;Höhne, 2008;Kampichler a Kispéter, 2014;Křížková a Vohlídalová 2009;Kuchařová a Nešporová, 2019;Kuchařová a Svobodová, 2006;Kuchařová et al, 2009;Matějková a Paloncyová, 2004;Saxonberg a Sirovatka, 2006;Saxonberg et al, 2012). Poskytování institucionální RVaP je v těchto pracích často chápáno jako klíčový nástroj slaďování pracovního a soukromého života.…”

“…Charakteristickými prvky těchto analýz je jednak propojení s historickou analýzou a poukazování na "path-dependency" historického vývoje (např. Hašková a Dudová, 2017;Hašková a Saxonberg, 2016;Hašková a Uhde, 2009;Hašková et al, 2012;Saxonberg et al, 2012) -tzn. jak dřívější politická rozhodnutí (především z dob socialistického Československa) předurčují současnou situaci -a jednak analýza situace žen (nejen) na pracovním trhu, jejich priorit a potřeb z hlediska slaďování pracovních a pečovatelských povinností včetně mapování současných možností (srov.…”