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Deliberative Policy Analysis and Policy-making in Urban Stormwater Management
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Deliberative Policy Analysis and Policy-making in Urban Stormwater Management

Katharine Travaline, Franco Montalto and Christian Hunold
Journal of environmental policy & planning, v 17(5), pp 691-708
20 Oct 2015

Abstract

Development Studies Public Administration Regional & Urban Planning Social Sciences
The Philadelphia Water Department is the first US water utility to propose a green stormwater infrastructure' (GSI) approach to managing urban stormwater. Given that many actors individually make decisions regarding the surface texture of urban watersheds, planning and installing an urban-scale GSI programme is both complex and uncertain. Whether and how water utility officials interact with watershed stakeholders introduces important questions about methodologies for participation, both in the policy process and the analysis thereof. We critically examine a participatory process employed in a Philadelphia neighbourhood in terms of Deliberative Policy Analysis (DPA). Informed by interpretive methodology, our analysis is two-fold: (1) we examine the potential as well as the challenges of using DPA in the analysis and practice of policy-making and, at the same time, (2) we consider the use of DPA under adverse circumstances, including extreme inequality and distrust. We outline some ways in which DPA is better suited than more traditional forms of policy analysis to address the complexity and uncertainty inherent in environmental issues as well as some ways in which DPA is particularly challenging. We heed a call for a reorientation of policy analysis that brings empirical and normative inquiry into closer interaction.

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20 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#2 Zero Hunger
#6 Clean Water and Sanitation
#13 Climate Action
#9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
#11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#14 Life Below Water

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Web of Science research areas
Development Studies
Regional & Urban Planning
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