Beyond failure: the generative effects of unsuccessful proposals for Supervised Drug Consumption Sites (SCS) in Melbourne, Australia

《Beyond failure: the generative effects of unsuccessful proposals for Supervised Drug Consumption Sites (SCS) in Melbourne, Australia》

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作者

来源: URBAN GEOGRAPHY,Vol.41,Issue9,P.1179-1197

语言: 英文

关键字: Failure,harm reduction,drug consumption,policy-making,policy mobilities,Melbourne

作者单位: a School of Environment, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

摘要: Focusing on the 20-year history of unsuccessful proposals for Supervised Drug Consumption Sites in Melbourne, Australia, this paper highlights the generative effects of apparent “failure” in policy-making and policy mobilization. Rather than framing thwarted proposals as categorical failures, we show how they altered parameters of policy acceptability, invigorated policy and practitioner networks, facilitated the development of allied programs, and, recently, inspired a successful SCS proposal. The paper argues that apparent policy failure and the potential for policy change must be evaluated and conceptualised in terms of variously long historical timeframes. In doing so, the paper contributes to ongoing debate over the conceptual and empirical status of failure in policy mobilities literature.KEYWORDS: Failureharm reductiondrug consumptionpolicy-makingpolicy mobilitiesMelbourneAcknowledgmentsWe are grateful to all those who agreed to be interviewed. Thanks also to Simone Cooper for research assistance and to Cristina Temenos and John Lauermann for comments on an earlier draft. Helpful comments from the anonymous reviewers and editorial advice from Susan Moore are also greatly appreciated. This research was funded by grants from the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada (435–2013–2197) and the School of Environment at the University of Auckland. We dedicate this article to the memory of Jenny Kelsall, the late Executive Officer of Harm Reduction Victoria.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.Additional informationFundingThis work was supported by the Faculty of Science, University of Auckland [N/A];Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [435–2013–2197];