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Beyond Legalism? Policy Ideas, Implementation Styles and Emulation-Based Convergence in Canadian and U.S. Environmental Policy

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  • HOWLETT, MICHAEL

Abstract

Past studies of the dynamics of U.S.-Canada environmental policy and policy-making have found little evidence of ‘weak’ convergence in this sector; that is, of Canadian policy moving towards the U.S. model of adversarial legalism, an implementation style based upon procedural policy instruments such as action-forcing statutes, citizen suits, and judicial activism. However, recent efforts at de-regulation and the reformation of government in the U.S., and moves towards multi-stakeholder policy-making in Canada, have altered the standard against which trends towards Canadian^ American convergence must be assessed. These reforms have moved the U.S. environmental regulatory system closer to that existing in Canada, in which regulations and other elements of the environmental regime are developed through negotiation rather than litigation. Since Canadian environmental implementation has also been altered over the same period, however, it is argued that a form of ‘strong’ convergence is emerging, in which both countries are moving not towards each other but towards a third, common, style, that associated with the development of self-regulation and voluntary initiatives under the influence of New Public Management ideas and principles.

Suggested Citation

  • Howlett, Michael, 2000. "Beyond Legalism? Policy Ideas, Implementation Styles and Emulation-Based Convergence in Canadian and U.S. Environmental Policy," Journal of Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(3), pages 305-329, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:jnlpup:v:20:y:2000:i:03:p:305-329_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Lars H. Gulbrandsen & Graeme Auld, 2016. "Contested Accountability Logics in Evolving Nonstate Certification for Fisheries Sustainability," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 16(2), pages 42-60, May.
    2. Strunz, Sebastian & Gawel, Erik & Lehmann, Paul & Söderholm, Patrik, 2018. "Policy convergence as a multifaceted concept: the case of renewable energy policies in the European Union," Journal of Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 38(3), pages 361-387, September.
    3. Ahmed Huque & Nathan Watton, 2010. "Federalism and the Implementation of Environmental Policy: Changing Trends in Canada and the United States," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 71-88, March.
    4. Marsden, Greg & Stead, Dominic, 2011. "Policy transfer and learning in the field of transport: A review of concepts and evidence," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(3), pages 492-500, May.
    5. William R. Lowry, 2009. "Policy Changes on Canada's Rivers: Different but not Isolated," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 26(6), pages 783-800, November.
    6. Kern, Kristine & Kissling-Näf, Ingrid, 2002. "Politikkonvergenz und Politikdiffusion durch Regierungs- und Nichtregierungsorganisationen: Ein internationaler Vergleich von Umweltzeichen," Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Standard-setting and Environment FS II 02-302, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    7. Yuanyuan Huang & Lizhen Wei & Guiwen Liu & Wenjing Cui & Fangyun Xie & Xun Deng, 2022. "“Inspiring” Policy Transfer: Analysis of Urban Renewal in Four First-Tier Chinese Cities," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-31, December.

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