eprintid: 10166570
rev_number: 7
eprint_status: archive
userid: 699
dir: disk0/10/16/65/70
datestamp: 2023-03-15 08:05:33
lastmod: 2023-03-15 08:05:33
status_changed: 2023-03-15 08:05:33
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
sword_depositor: 699
creators_name: Radaelli, CM
title: Occupy the semantic space! Opening up the language of better regulation
ispublished: inpress
divisions: UCL
divisions: B03
divisions: C03
divisions: F30
keywords: Advocacy coalitions frame work, concepts, ideologies, language, regulation
note: © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any
medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
abstract: Policy agendas are often cast in semantic constructions that portray them as universally desirable outcomes. These semantic constructions protect and reinforce the power of dominant coalitions and make it hard to pursue alternatives. The semantic space is entirely occupied by the dominant concepts. At the same time, within the dominant coalition, ideational conflict is muted by decontesting concepts. Drawing on political theory, I show the presence of this double act of reducing the semantic space and decontesting concepts with the case of ‘better regulation’. Then I briefly extend the argument to other terms such as policy coherence, agile governance, smart cities and social value judgements. The critical discussion of the implications of dominant language brings in transparency, allows other coalitions to articulate their vision in a discursive level-playing-field, and offers citizens the possibility to discuss what is really ‘better’ and ‘for whom’.
date: 2023-03-01
date_type: published
publisher: Informa UK Limited
official_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2023.2181852
oa_status: green
full_text_type: pub
language: eng
primo: open
primo_central: open_green
verified: verified_manual
elements_id: 2010680
doi: 10.1080/13501763.2023.2181852
lyricists_name: Radaelli, Claudio
lyricists_id: CMRAD04
actors_name: Kalinowski, Damian
actors_id: DKALI47
actors_role: owner
full_text_status: public
publication: Journal of European Public Policy
issn: 1350-1763
citation:        Radaelli, CM;      (2023)    Occupy the semantic space! Opening up the language of better regulation.                   Journal of European Public Policy        10.1080/13501763.2023.2181852 <https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2023.2181852>.    (In press).    Green open access   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10166570/1/Radaelli_Occupy%20the%20semantic%20space_AOP.pdf