The Indeterminacy of Choice: Political, Policy and Organisational Implications

Abstract

Choice has become a central -and much debated -theme of New Labour's approach to the reform of public service. In this article we examine the conditions and consequences of the indeterminacy of choice in political discourse, policy development and organisational dynamics. We suggest that the under-specification of choice in political and policy settings risks devolving the stresses of indeterminacy to service organisations and their interactions with the public. We explore some of the public's ambivalence about choice and public services and conclude by offering two ways of thinking about the indeterminacy of choice -treating choice as a condensate and as a proxy.

School curriculum, globalisation and the constitution of policy problems and solutions

“…In curriculum terms, the policy solution to the perceived problem of curriculum inflexibility is to make curricula more open and adaptable, giving opportunities for wider choice. According to Clarke, Smith and Vidler (2006) choice facilitates personalisation. For the purpose of this paper, it is useful to draw on the then UK Schools' Standards Minister, David Miliband's much-quoted understanding of personalisation, presented at an international conference in 2004, as 'building the organisation of schooling around the needs, interests and aptitudes of individual pupils'; 'shaping teaching around the way different youngsters learn' and 'taking the care to nurture the unique talents of every pupil' (3) for the purpose of raising standards in schools.…”

Beyond Modernisation? Social Care and the Transformation of Welfare Governance

“…It anticipates a direct confrontation between discourses of social inclusion and citizenship and popular conceptions of the lifestyles that it is appropriate for social care resources to support. Unease also pervades the debates on choice that have littered papers in UK social policy journals in recent years, debates that have highlighted the implications for questions of accountability, fairness, equity and other 'public' goods (for example, Clarke et al, 2006Clarke et al, , 2007Needham, 2007).…”

The Role of Emotions in the Process of Making Choices about Welfare Services: The Experiences of Disabled People in England

“…This transfer is placing new emotional demands on recipients of services. Clarke et al (2006) have referred to this as the devolution of stress. So what are the emotional consequences of this shift in responsibility?…”