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Political Science Public Affairs & Administration

Between Colliding Worlds

The Ambiguous Existence of Government Agencies for Aboriginal and Women's Policy

by (author) Jonathan Malloy

Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Initial publish date
Oct 2003
Category
Public Affairs & Administration, Native American Studies, Social Policy
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780802037176
    Publish Date
    Nov 2003
    List Price
    $76.00
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781442671317
    Publish Date
    Oct 2003
    List Price
    $77.00

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Description

Jonathan Malloy's Between Colliding Worlds examines the relationship between governments and external activists through a comparative study of policy units dedicated to aboriginal and women's issues in Australia and Canada. Malloy identifies these units – or 'special policy agencies' – as sitting on the boundary between the world of permanent public servants and that of collective social movements working for broad social and political change. These agencies at once represent the interests of social movements to government while simultaneously managing relations with social movements on behalf of government, and – thus – operate in a state of permanent ambiguity.

Malloy contends that rather than criticizing these agencies for their inherently contradictory nature, we must reconsider them as effectively dealing with the delicate issue of bridging social movements with state politics. In other words, the very existence of these special policy agencies provides a forum for social movements and the state to work out their differences.

Relying heavily on interviews with public servants and external activists, Malloy argues convincingly that special policy agencies, despite – or because of – their ambiguous relationship to different communities, make critical contributions to governance.

About the author

Jonathan Malloy is a professor of political science and the Honourable Dick and Ruth Bell Chair in Canadian Parliamentary Democracy at Carleton University.

Jonathan Malloy's profile page

Awards

  • Winner, Charles H. Levine Memorial Book Prize