Austerity, further devolution of powers, issues such as an ageing population and climate change, and of course Brexit are all important conditions and events leading to uncertainty, instability and an unprecedented situation in Welsh policy and politics. These issues affect how and why policy is made and services are delivered. This is also an opportune time requiring reflection and analysis, where multiple stakeholders – ministers, civil servants, politicians, professionals, academics and citizens – are reviewing and redefining the purpose and outcomes of policy and politics in Wales.
Held in partnership with the Wales Centre for Public Policy, this one-day event will bring together academics at all stages of their career as well as representatives from Welsh Government and civil society to discuss these questions, current and future practices, and opportunities for Welsh policy and politics.
The day will be organised into three panel sessions with paper presentations (10-15 minutes for each presentation) followed by 10-15 minutes of discussion by a discussant, with questions and answers from the room. The panels will be focused around the following themes:
- Knowledge and evidence in Wales and its role in policy-making
- Theories and methods in policy change: A Welsh and devolved perspective
- The future of policy and politics in Wales
There will also be a lunchtime ‘in conversation’ session with Professor Jo Hunt and Dr Hugh Rawlings discussing Brexit, the devolution of new powers to Wales, and the role that various Welsh policy stakeholders – government, the legislative powers, civil society and universities – can play.