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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