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The thesis seeks to make a novel contribution to the field of public policy analysis in Canada, through a detailed examination of the origins, development and operation of the programs of the Job Creation Branch, and Community Employment Strategy, of the Department of Manpower and Immigration. A case study of the direct job creation programs provides the basis for the development of a new perspective, one in which policy is treated as the subject, rather than the object of inquiry, and policy is seen as a process rather than as a series of instantaneous states, each somehow implying the next. It is argued that program activity has in part replaced policy activity in government, for political and structural reasons. As a consequence, it is su9gested that policy analysts must begin to deal with "quasi -policy" or "residual policy" areas, characterized by programmatic activity. Contemporary analysis would suggest that programmatic activity is severely limited. The thesis suggests, based upon direct investigation, that while programs may be seen as retrospective, reactive and incremental, they may also be seen as active, partial, provisional, incomplete and prospective. The prospective aspect of existing programs suggests the possibility of movement toward the development of creative policy firmly rooted in contemporary Canadian experience. It is argued that if policy analysts are to deal realistically with Canadian policy processes, then they must begin to deal with programmatic activity as a major and continuing concern. A shift in perspective of this kind, it is suggested, will initiate further major developments in theory, particularly with reference to our contemporary understanding of the "welfare" and "service" states. Similarly, it is suggested that government itself must become aware of its own activity from a new perspective, or face continuing problems in the area of policy development and program administration. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

In response to reports alleging an alarming decline in student knowledge and achievement during the last two decades, America has witnessed a revival-like call for higher standards in public education. Driven by a public desire to measure schools and educators based on student achievement, policymakers have moved quickly to create politically expedient accountability reform laws. Research into early attempts show significant difficulties with regard to their political and legal viability. There is evidence to suggest that policymakers must develop a better understanding of the complex issues that surround both the development and implementation of such policies if those policies are to survive inevitable scrutiny and challenge and bring meaningful reform. This study is a descriptive policy analysis tracing the evolution of Florida's efforts since 1989 to bring accountability to public schools and educators based on measured student performance. A rich description of the political, educational, social, and legal issues that have helped shape efforts to craft such legislation is presented. Based on an analysis of the evolution of these reform efforts, implications for policymakers in Florida and other states, as well as the educational community at-large are reported. / Ed. D.

In industrially developed countries such as the United States, it is conventional to assume that the model of cosmopolitan biomedicine that is employed ought to be extrapolated into global health policy, as well as into industrially underdeveloped countries. However, despite the benefits and advances, it is also arguable that this would be enormously problematic, considering such phenomena as the de-prioritization of primary prevention despite relevant epidemiological research, and the dominance of transnational pharmaceutical corporations with ethically questionable practices. Identifying the problem requires examining the philosophical etiology of the prevalent paradigm in Western thinking. Academic disciplines have inherited a segregative, mechanistic paradigm that has only been extant since the seventeenth century. The process of paradigm entrenchment is explored, and some of its significant modern manifestations in science, technology, and economics are discussed. Acknowledging the value of integrative, multi-dimensional approaches to global and regional healthcare challenges, some new ideas need to be explored for their potential application. For example, the cultivation and consumption of species of the cyanobacterial genus Arthrospira could play a significant role in addressing several problems. Arthrospira species contain high concentrations of nutrients, and have also demonstrated immunomodulatory properties, such as increased interferon-y production and natural-killer cytotoxicity. These microalgae have been harvested in some parts of Sub-Saharan Africa for centuries. An expansion of the production of these microalgae could also generate a local market, which, if partnered with similar strategies in other areas, could contribute to tempering some socio-economic inequity that is in turn associated with lack of access to healthcare.

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Introduction Occupational Epidemiology (OE) has played a vital role in producing improvements in the working population’s health. Nonetheless, anecdotal evidence indicates that OE in the UK is facing many challenges and the research workforce, funding, and output in this area are declining. This study aims to: investigate the nature and evolution of these key contributors to success; identify the external social, political, economic and any other factors which frame and contextualise these challenges and the facilitators; use this contextualisation to explain and evaluate how and why the identified challenges and facilitators influenced the OE field development compared to other similar fields; and explore how far they may explain the ebb and flow of research activity in OE in comparison with other health disciplines. Methods A sequential, mixed-method approach was undertaken in four phases. These included interviews with key UK-based OE researchers; a survey of UK-based OE researchers to test out themes that emerged from the first phase; a bibliometric analysis comparing trends and characteristics of UK-based OE published studies with those in public health epidemiology (PHE); and a documentary review of annual reports of three health research funding bodies including: the Medical Research Council, the Cancer Research Campaign, and the Health and Safety Commission. Results The lack of human and financial resources was found to be of utmost concern to the OE community, which increased over time and negatively affected researchers’ abilities to conduct further and higher quality studies. The bibliometric study revealed that the number of PHE publications and researchers increased substantially while the numbers for OE remained fairly constant. Furthermore, it was found that in PHE much higher levels of collaboration and adoption of newer methods such as the use of molecular and genetic techniques were applied. Widening research collaboration and the adoption of newer methods were encouraged by funding bodies because both are perceived to contribute to research efficiency and commercialisation of research ideas. These have been adopted more widely by other fields, thus helping them to develop and improve their status, which was not the case for OE. Furthermore, fewer influential representatives from the field of OE were found within funding bodies, which had played a major role in directing resources to research within health fields and hence influencing their development. Conclusions Social, economic, and political factors such as the exclusion of occupational health (OH) from the National Health Service, deindustrialisation, and neoliberal government policies within public and higher education institutions particularly that focus on economic contribution of science, and research auditing and efficiency, most likely, have the greatest influence on funding decisions of research in OH and other health disciplines. These issues have significantly instigated obscurity of OH and hence OE within the agendas of both the government and the funding bodies. Henceforward, the development of the OE field has become adversely affected compared to other health research fields. Finally, this thesis confirms that the rise and fall of a particular health research field is heavily influenced by specific past and contemporary social, economic and political factors. Engaging in social, economic and political matters, being open to new advances in research, and optimising networking opportunities with other disciplines, key researchers, policy-makers and other pertinent stakeholders and institutions may potentially facilitate progress in OE and other health research fields.

This thesis argues that there is an emerging field of international cultural policy in Canada informed by ongoing changes in the pattern of policy making. Caught between old nationalist discourses of a unified Canadian nation, and the rapidly changing global environment, the Canadian cultural policy makers struggle to make Canadian culture survive both at home and abroad. In this research, international cultural policy will refer to cultural policy designed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Department of Canadian Heritage. Moving beyond a simple empirical analysis of policy, this thesis adopts Tony Bennett's definition of the governmentalization of culture applying a Foucauldian governmental rationality line of thinking. Looking at how cultural creation is being governed through discursive formations, various conceptualisations, techniques, institutional arrangements, participating actors and government initiatives, this thesis maps out international cultural policy as an emerging governmental practice in Canada.