Policy capacity in disruptive times

ABSTRACT

In considering the widely held view that we have experienced an era of qualitative decline in policy provision, this paper briefly reviews four questions that appear to underlie such a view. Have there been identifiable transitions in deliberative processes, political practices and policy capacity in recent decades (and if so, what were the catalysts)? Has the relationship between policy practitioners and expert providers of policy advice changed (and if so, how)? Have channels of communication between the political/policy community and the research community deteriorated (and if so, why)? Has the political appreciation of public concerns and the public understanding of policy imperatives diminished? We use these to frame the results of a workshop in which researchers, policy practitioners and service providers participated. Our objective is to identify systematically the origin of contemporary policy problems, foreshadowing four articles that illuminate instances of success and failure in disruptive times.     

The Sugared Almond in Modern Greek Rites of Passage

Recently, correspondents in FLS News have shown a great deal of interest in sugared almonds. In particular, there has been a keen awareness of continental traditions (especially French and Italian) involving the giving of sugared almonds at weddings and baptisms (see: Hazel 1991; Sughrue 1991; Stone 1991; Wood 1991; Simpson 1992; Tatem 1992). Sugared almonds are also important in Greek rites of passage, and many uses are unique to that country.¹ Much of the information in this article comes from the island of Cephallonia, where I came to live in 1986, yet close parallells can be seen in other parts of Greece. Much of the information is also personal—I got engaged and then married in the same year I arrived, I was received into the Orthodox church, and both my children have been baptised in that faith. On each of these occasions, sugared almonds were given. Living and worshipping with the Cephallonians has enabled me to share many of their joys and sorrows, and to see the various ways in which the sugared almonds are used.     

Age estimation from the pars basilaris of the fetal and juvenile occipital bone

The pars basilaris of the human occipital bone is reported to be of considerable value for age estimation in juvenile skeletal remains between early fetal periods and 6 years of age, when it fuses to the remainder of the bone. The aim of this investigation was to examine the relationship between various dimensions of the pars basilaris, and assess their reliability for accurate age estimation. The results confirm the usefulness of the bone in this respect and they are discussed in the light of differential growth of the pars basilaris, and in the increase in dimensions of the boundaries of the foramen magnum.