Policy research concerns us all

For the second year in a row a Nordic conference on policy research was held between 21 and 24 January at Luleå University of Technology. In connection with the conference a Nordic network for the research area was founded.
“Policies and society’s ability to solve problems affect us all. Therefore, we would like to increase our cooperation with other research areas at the university”, says Annica Sandström, Professor in Political Science.

A policy is the result of a political process expressing an intent or a possible solution to a problem. There are many different forms of policies, for example legislation, strategies, steering documents, information and implementation of organisation culture.

Policy research studies how policies are made and what results they bring about: How is a problem identified? Who is permitted to participate in the policy process? Which perspectives have impact in the formulation of the policy? Does the policy fulfil its aims, i.e. is it effective? Does the policy receive legitimacy among people who are affected by it? are examples of questions that policy research tries to answer.

Policy research at Luleå University of Technology has a strong focus on land use conflicts and environmental issues, for example forestry regulations, handling hydroelectric power, wildlife management, permitting of mining and wind farms. Several of the research projects in political science have a direct connection to the green transition.

“Our research colleagues in natural sciences and technology tend to wonder why nothing happens despite them often having the technical solutions to the problems facing humanity. We who work with policy research can explain why things move forward at such a slow pace and what can be done about it. That’s why I believe we have much to gain from closer collaboration between our research areas”, says Annica Sandström.

Chris Weible is Doctor h.c. and Guest Professor at Luleå University of Technology. He helped organise and participated as a speaker at the conference. He is a University of Colorado Distinguished Professor in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado, Denver and world leader within policy research, especially regarding how coalitions between different interests are formed during a policy process.

“Policy research is about our collective will and how skilful we are at solving our common goals together. That’s why the research is so important.”

He is impressed by the dynamic research environment in Political Science at Luleå University of Technology.

“I dare say, that policy researchers at Luleå University of Technology are among the best in Sweden. They punch above their weight, despite being a relatively small group and they have a large international research network. I am proud to be a part of this group.”

The conference was attended by researchers from Mid Sweden University, Uppsala University, Lund University, Helsinki University and Norwegian University of Science and Technology. In connection with the conference a Nordic network for policy research was founded. Chris Weible means that Nordic policy research can contribute with interesting perspectives in the international research society.

“The Nordic countries are stable, democratic welfare states with a long history of consensus aiming policy processes, in contrast to my own country, USA, for example.”

Among the issues discussed during the conference was policy processes in connection with crises, how political cultures affect coalition building between interest groups participating in a policy process and how machine learning can be used to study longitudinal change in policies.

“Our intention with the conference is to offer an arena which allows the participators to test unfinished ideas. It should be academically stringent but open minded. That is important, not the least to the doctoral students, the policy researchers of the new generation”, says Annica Sandström.