Research
In general, I am interested in all things related to policy transfer, learning and knowledge updating as they apply to public policy and policymaking. More specifically, I am interested in seeing how power and ideational issues interact with transfer and learning in the areas of social policy (particularly the development and spread of Conditional Cash Transfers), urban water management (particularly green infrastructure policies and practices) and the Belt and Road initiative as it has been implemented across Africa. More recently, I have gained an interest in the role of information technology and its role in and (process of) social control – particularly in the ways these technologies transfer and how individuals and groups adapt.
General Research Interests
Over the next three years I intend to build on two strands of research relating to my expertise and global leadership in the study of policy transfer and knowledge acquisition. The fist strand of this will involve expanding my initial research into the ideological foundations and ideational movement of conditional cash transfer (CCTs) in South and Central America (in collaboration with Cecilia Osorio Gonnet - Universidad Alberto Hurtado; Osmany Porto – Universiade Federal de San Paulo). In relation to this strand of my plans will we be: publishing two articles and a book chapter; presenting our work at departmental seminars, regional events, and the international IPPA and ICCP conferences; building on our initial funding 11,225,200 Paso’s (£10,000), with applications to Leverhulme/BA (for the senior fellowship) and the ESRCs working with Brazilian researchers grant (in conjunction with the Sao Paulo Research Foundation application).
The second element of my research track builds on this work, but focuses on China. Over the past two years I have started to build links to Chinese academics (including those currently in China such as: Michael Conners, Yanzhe Zhang, Pan Lixia and Xiong Ye) and others studying China (Giulia Romano). Here the idea to apply for an large project grant linking young and established scholars, grants that target links between UK, French, German researchers interested in environmental policy transfer and impediments to this (i.e. open reach area round 7).
Operating along side these core areas, I am currently involved in the potential bid (with Simion Yates et al.) to the ESRC’s ‘explore people’s relationship with digital technology’. We have had our first two project meetings and I am involved in exploring the potential to bring in academic experts and funds from a team of scholars working at a number of partner orginisations and institutions.
PGR Supervision
Professor Dolowitz invites any student who is interested in potential PH.D. research to contact him if they are interested in any of the following areas.
• All areas of lesson drawing, learning, and policy transfer between political systems
• All areas of knowledge updating related to policymaking
• Areas involving comparative policy analysis
• Topics associated with American public and social policy
• Issues associated with sustainable urban development – particularly the use and politics of SUDS/LID
• The role of ideational transfer in the management of borders
• Studies of the Belt and Road Initiative and its role in transfer
For informaiton on PhD scholarships and awards go to: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/fees-and-funding/scholarships-and-awards/
Recent Grants
Recent Grants:
• (et.al.) ICCP conference, Brazilian Government grant, 11,225,200 Paso’s (£10,000).
• (and Magdaléna Hadjiisky, Romuald Normand). A €20,000 IGPDE grant (Including £1,000 from the University of Liverpool (HLC)).
• (and Kelley, M, Maderis, D., Nickel, D., and Schönfelder, W.), $49,750, EPA Project Grant, RFQ-OH-11-00015, Potential Improvements To Urban Water Resources Through Trans-national Sharing of Experience and Technology: Comparative Analysis of German and American Experience.
Research grants
The European Union as a medium of policy transfer: case studies in utility regulation.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
January 2000 - December 2002
Policy Transfer: Theory, Practice and Reality.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
February 1999 - January 2001
Research collaborations
Magdalena Hadjiisky
IEP – Strasbourg
Examining the role of learning within IOs
Osmany Porto de Oliveira
Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Unifesp (English)
Organising workshops and publications relating to policy transfer and learning
Cecilia Osorio Gonnet
Professor
Universidad Alberto Hurtado
Cecilia and I are examining the role of ideas and ideologies in the movement and development of CCTs in South America
Sabine Saurugger
Sciences Po - Grenoble
We are working on a project examining the resistance techniques employed by political systems involved in power relations 'requiring' them to import foreign models or ideas into their governing structures.
Sarah Bell
UCL, UK
While in its early stages, we are examining (with Melissa Keeley) why BMP's appear not to transfer from one location to another within a nation. In particular why the UK is a laggard despite the passage for he EU water Directive and the UK 2010 Flood Bill.
Rodica Plugaru
Sciences Po - Grenoble
We are working on a project examining the resistance techniques employed by political systems involved in power relations 'requiring' them to import foreign models or ideas into their governing structures.
Dale Medearis
Northern Virginia Regional Commission
Research into the movement of environmental policies between Europe and the US
Melissa Keeley
George Washington
Research into environmental policy development