Narrating Policy - Narrative Methods, Methodology, Epistemology, and Modalities (Panel) (1/16/2017)

Narrating Policy - Narrative Methods, Methodology, Epistemology, and Modalities (Panel) *Using Narrative Insights to Analyse the Politics of Social Policy Research* - Dr Harriet Clarke and Raquel Silva (University of Birmingham) ‘Narrative’ may be emergent in some areas of social policy analysis, yet it is an explicit mode of research presentation across academic disciplines and methodological approaches in the UK HEI environment. In the context of ‘impact narrative’ (as one powerful given mode for research narrative producers) we consider the potential of insights from narrative analysis to provide the social policy community tools to discuss, analyse and address what shapes our individual and institutional ways of presenting ourselves and our academic endeavours. Specific issues raised include (i) who tells research stories – who to, for what purpose and (ii) what narrative resources are used and produced (and perhaps not used / not produced) in the process. We argue that th potential contribution of a narrative lens is rooted in the politics of social research and that a narrative perspective can strongly enhance analysis of the research-policy field. *Xenophobia to Understanding: Influencing the Narrative of Unaccompanied Refugee Children through Systemic Communication* - Pascal Tshibanda (University of Bedfordshire) A multilevel communications project, with a relational (i.e. systemic) orientation in a Swedish borough council has proven to be an efficient tool to combat othering, prejudices and racism towards unaccompanied refugee children, or “bearded children” as they were called in the public debate. Sweden was the OECD's highest per capita recipient of asylum seekers until 2015 and in this particular rural small town, people from 116 different countries, speaking 156 different languages, reside. Global migration hence, present complex opportunities and challenges for local councils. This irreversible human global warming leave deep traces on everyday life for those who move, and those who receive them. The ethical posture that underpinned this communications project was to talk with rather than about unaccompanied refugee children. Public leadership and communication are hence intrinsic and interwoven elements in the creation of sustainable local communities of co-existence. The outcome was “I’m no longer afraid”, two storytelling videos, a photo exhibition and a photo book to combat narratives of ”failed multiculturalism” and the stigmatisation of vulnerable children on the move. 'Narrating Policy: Exploring Narrative in Policy and Policy Analysis' was a one-day symposium held at the University of Leeds, organised by James Beresford and Ashley R. Bullard, doctoral researchers in the School of Sociology and Social Policy. The day was dedicated to the various and variegated ways narrative and narrative analysis informs policy and policy analysis. The symposium was sponsored by the Leeds Social Science Institution and the Sociology and Social Policy’s Policy Research Cluster.

Dr Harriet Clarke

1/16/2017 2:41:59 PM