Most individuals with radical ideologies will not evolve into violent extremists, let alone terrorists. Understanding the dynamics and various pathways into a radical ideology is nonetheless... Show moreMost individuals with radical ideologies will not evolve into violent extremists, let alone terrorists. Understanding the dynamics and various pathways into a radical ideology is nonetheless important. However, empirical research on pathways into left-wing radicalization is scarce. In this chapter, we define the concept of left-wing radicalization in relation to extremism and provide an overview of existing research on left-wing radicalization. Drawing on case studies and our own empirical research, we discuss both individual motives for participation in radical left groups and macro-level factors in the political and societal context that impact the growth or demise of radical left groups. Show less
Over the last decade, several middle powers have sought to strengthen their state capacity by digitalizing the provision of key governance services. Through public digital infrastructure, they have... Show moreOver the last decade, several middle powers have sought to strengthen their state capacity by digitalizing the provision of key governance services. Through public digital infrastructure, they have attempted to address problems of scale by fostering greater precision in domains such as healthcare, access to credit, and social security. These digital services – ‘middleware’ – have traditionally been built with the help of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs): lines of code governing how data is fetched from public databases and shared or stored by public and private entities alike. Advancements in AI present a further opportunity for these states to leapfrog bottlenecks associated with human resources development by building “intelligent” bots and service providers. AI-enabled middleware too is built atop APIs relying on machine learning models to detect patterns and provide predictive responses. High degrees of standardization and centralization in the provision and upkeep of intelligent algorithms carry risks and vulnerabilities, also of a strategic nature. Malicious actors could compromise the API, and corrupt training data, thereby manipulating the AI-enabled service at the front end, to worrying consequences. This chapter surveys proposals by India, Singapore, and Brazil to build AI-enabled governance services, and details strategic risks associated with their deployment. While intelligent programs may allow middle powers to sidestep logistical and resource-based constraints, they also open new theatres of cyber conflict, inviting adversaries to disrupt or disable key engines of their economic growth. Show less
Contemporary universities have many different tasks. Next to the traditional research and teaching mission, universities are also expected to engage in other activities that create social value. A... Show moreContemporary universities have many different tasks. Next to the traditional research and teaching mission, universities are also expected to engage in other activities that create social value. A balance between these different tasks varies across higher education systems, institutions, and individuals. This chapter examines the position of international staff on this landscape of different missions. International mobility is usually associated with research excellence. In this chapter we empirically examine the difference between local and international staff to test this image about international staff. The analysis shows that international staff is indeed significantly more oriented towards research and less on teaching, both in their intrinsic interest and time investment. Difference with respect to ‘third mission’ activities is small. International staff is equally or even more active in activities like patenting or creating spin-off companies. On the other hand, they are underrepresented in activities that are embedded in a local context, such as serving on expert committees or undertaking consultancy work. This triggers a question about an optimal engagement of international staff in the diversity of missions. Show less
Expertise is the raison d'etre of regulatory agencies. Regulatory agencies are created to generate regulatory policy solutions that are based on technical data and scientific knowledge. However,... Show moreExpertise is the raison d'etre of regulatory agencies. Regulatory agencies are created to generate regulatory policy solutions that are based on technical data and scientific knowledge. However, regulatory agencies' technical activities - i.e., the ways in which scientific knowledge and technical data are used in regulatory policy-making - can vary considerably. While the extant literature has provided relevant insights into how and why regulatory agencies arrive at conflicting technical conclusions, its potential could be unlocked by (1) integrating the novel theoretical insights from bureaucratic reputation theory to explain agency technical conduct and their effort to legitimize their activities; (2) considering a multi-disciplinary research agenda that suggests focusing on the influence of expert knowledge in regulatory policy-making; (3) addressing the challenges that regulatory agencies face to provide neutral bureaucratic competencies and expertise amidst the rise of populism and democratic backsliding. Show less
Political science in the Netherlands has a long tradition and a history of institutionalization. It developed as a broad discipline, together with public administration, and grew into separate... Show morePolitical science in the Netherlands has a long tradition and a history of institutionalization. It developed as a broad discipline, together with public administration, and grew into separate research and education programmes. Does this segmented nature of political science appear in the external activities of those scholars concerned? Or is the overall consensus-style and neo-corporatist (‘polder’) advisory system in which political scientists are placed a more important determinant? What about developments in the policy advisory system itself, pressures on institutions and trends in the environment and their consequences for the supply and demand of scholarly political science advice? These are the central questions we examine in this chapter. We first present the development of the discipline in the country. Then we look at the main features and trends of the advisory system and the niche occupied by political scientists. As we will show on the basis of the survey results, political scientists in the Netherlands gauge their visibility and their social and political impact as relatively high, and a large majority of them engage in advisory activities. Our findings also highlight that the effects of the segmented structure of political science on the type of advisory role are relatively limited. Show less
This chapter focuses on the evaluation of public policy and administration. Institutionalized for decades in many places worldwide, policy evaluation has become a routinized and professionalized... Show moreThis chapter focuses on the evaluation of public policy and administration. Institutionalized for decades in many places worldwide, policy evaluation has become a routinized and professionalized activity. However, assessing the performance of public agencies and the impact of the policies they implement is a highly political endeavor. As part of the executive branch and directly subordinate to governments, public agencies can be scrutinized and evaluated as an extension of political struggles. On the other hand, public agencies also use evaluation to advance their own objectives. This chapter examines the issues attached to the evaluation of public policies and administrative activity in relation to power games within and across the branches of government. It reveals how politicians and public servants can make strategic use of policy evaluations, as well as how this instrument serves not only reflexive and oversight purposes, but also agenda-setting ambitions. The chapter then presents an overview of the controlling, defensive and proactive functions of evaluation in policy struggles. Drawing upon these developments, the chapter underlines just how far from neutral evaluations can be in the politico-administrative game. Show less
This chapter focuses on the consultation approaches and tools government have at their disposal to manage the agenda-setting phase and organize consultation process and, in this way, shape the... Show moreThis chapter focuses on the consultation approaches and tools government have at their disposal to manage the agenda-setting phase and organize consultation process and, in this way, shape the participation and formulation of policy demands by external stakeholders. It outlines three types of consultation approaches: open, closed, and hybrid. The chapter then describes the strategies and motives that clarify preferences for certain consultation tools and approaches, addressing these questions from the perspectives of policymakers as well as external stakeholders. When designing consultation processes, determining specific approaches, and selecting particular tools, a central point of attention involves the extent to which they create an equal playing field among external stakeholders. This notion can be related to the treatment of policy participants and the way in which their input is processed, as well as to the open nature of the process and the ease of participation. The chapter finally addresses these two key characteristics of consultation processes and their fairness and inclusiveness. Show less
