Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policy

Funder

Organizational Unit

Publications

A bibliometric review of stakeholders' participation in sustainable forest management

Publication . Ciccarino, Irene Dobarrio Machado; Fernandes, Maria Eduarda da Silva Teixeira

Although stakeholders’ participation in forest management helps overcome problems and conflicts that prevent sustain- able solutions, different approaches and nomenclature for similar contents in the literature hinder theoretical progress on the topic. This study organises existing information through a bibliometric analysis of scientific papers from the last 30 years (1991–2021) on sustainable forest management, focusing on the stakeholders’ participation. Results demonstrate that stake- holders’ participation in sustainable forest management gained relevance from 2017 onwards. Case studies are predominant (66%) and six major trends were identified. The first emphasises a systemic approach to participation. The second updates the community management discussion. The third studies historical problems related to the use of resources, rights, and services. The fourth focuses on regional assessments and studies. The fifth concerns assessment, decision-making, and planning, includ- ing issues related to certifications and policies. The sixth discusses innovation related to adaptation, climate change, equity, and resilience. The studies included in this last classification are problem-solving-oriented and seek new forest management. Although important, the role of innovation in stakeholders’ participation in sustainable forest management is overlooked, which constitutes an avenue for future research.

2023-10-17Journal article

Open access

Debating the law of self-determination of gender identity in Portugal: Composition and dynamics of advocacy coalitions of political and civil society actors in the discussion of morality issues

Publication . Mota, Luis F.; Fernandes, Bruna

In the literature on morality issues, the most famous typology distinguishes countries from the “religious” and “secular” worlds, based on the presence or absence of partisan religious cleavages. Portugal belongs to the former world, yet in 2018, the Portuguese Parliament passed a law on the self-determination of gender identity. This article asks how such an outcome was possible, focusing on the role of political parties and civil society actors within advocacy coalitions. Our analysis reveals that, in addition to the role played by civil society actors, the “change coalition” won the dispute because it assembled a majority of votes in the parliament from left-wing progressive political parties. Moreover, actors from the “change coalition” developed a clear strategy of articulation before and during the debate. In contrast, the “blocking coalition,” composed of right-wing political parties and a few health-related actors, failed to define a coherent advocacy strategy.

2022Journal article

Restricted access

Politics and Policies in the Debate on Euthanasia: morality issues in Portugal

Publication . Almeida, Inês Santos; F. Mota, Luís

This book analyses the political and public debates about euthanasia in Portugal. Utilising petitions submitted to Parliament, legislative bills, parliamentary debates, opinion articles in newspapers, and documents published by the Catholic Church, it examines this sensitive issue through the theoretical lens of morality politics. It does so by studying the process of political dispute between advocacy coalitions formed by political parties and societal actors. This is the first book to comprehensively analyse a morality issue in Portugal, a predominantly Catholic country that has taken an innovative and liberal stance on many morality issues over the last two decades. It will appeal to students and scholars of sociology, political science, public policy and bioethics, as well as policymakers and other interest groups.

2023Book

Open access