What have we Learned from Policy Transfer Research? Dolowitz and Marsh Revisited
- 11 August 2011
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Political Studies Review
- Vol. 9 (3), 366-378
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1478-9302.2011.00240.x
Abstract
Over the last decade, policy transfer has emerged as an important concept within public policy analysis, guiding both theoretical and empirical research spanning many venues and issue areas. Using Dolowitz and Marsh's 1996 stocktake as its starting point, this article reviews what has been learned by whom and for what purpose. It finds that the literature has evolved from its rather narrow, state-centred roots to cover many more actors and venues. While policy transfer still represents a niche topic for some researchers, an increasing number have successfully assimilated it into wider debates on topics such as globalisation, Europeanisation and policy innovation. This article assesses the concept's position in the overall ‘tool-kit’ of policy analysis, examines some possible future directions and reflects on their associated risks and opportunities.This publication has 37 references indexed in Scilit:
- An Insider's Look into Policy Transfer in Transnational Expert NetworksEuropean Planning Studies, 2007
- Urban Sustainability: Learning from Best Practice?Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 2006
- Policy Transfer in the European Union: An Institutionalist PerspectiveBritish Journal of Political Science, 2004
- Transnational Networks and Global Environmental Governance: The Cities for Climate Protection ProgramInternational Studies Quarterly, 2004
- Policy transfer in the development of UK climate policyPolicy & Politics, 2004
- The Limitations of ‘Policy Transfer’ and ‘Lesson Drawing’ for Public Policy ResearchPolitical Studies Review, 2003
- Globalization, European integration and the discursive construction of economic imperativesJournal of European Public Policy, 2002
- Policy Transfer in the European Union: Institutional Isomorphism as a Source of LegitimacyGovernance, 2000
- Who Learns What from Whom: A Review of the Policy Transfer LiteraturePolitical Studies, 1996
- Concept Misformation in Comparative PoliticsAmerican Political Science Review, 1970