The global transfer of social policy

Abstract

Social policies that feature similar language do not necessarily carry the same meaning or content in every context. Social sceintists from a number of disciplines have developed concepts and metaphors in an attempt to characterise the international movement of policies. This chapter contrasts two of those conceptual frameworks, 'policy transfer' and 'travelling and embedded policy'. Policy transfer helps to explain the use of knowledge from elsewhere in decision-making processes. Travelling and embedded policy sheds light on the complex relationships between supranational, cross national, regional and sectorial influences on policy-making. In doing so, this chapter offers a particular focus on how global social policy agendas are mediated or negotiated by policy communities and networks in producing local policy settlements.