Three papers win the Best Paper Awards 2021 of Global Public Policy and Governance (GPPG) recently. They are selected from all published papers in GPPG in the year of 2021 under blind voting of GPPG’s editorial board members. The three awarded papers covered cutting-edge public policy and management issues such as global crisis governance, gender violence and women's rights, climate policy and multi-level governance. Detailed information about the papers are as follows (in the order of publishing dates).

1.Peters, B. G. (2021). Governing in a time of global crises: the good, the bad, and the merely normal. Global Public Policy and Governance, 1(1), 4-19.

Abstract

Governments and societies in 2020 and 2021 have been facing three interconnected crises—COVID-19 and the health crisis, an economic crisis resulting from the health crisis, and a social crisis around inclusion and equity. The magnitude of these crises, and their nature, vary across countries, but no country has been left untouched. This paper discusses the good, the bad, and the merely normal aspects of governance that have emerged in response to these crises.

Author

B. Guy Peters is the Maurice Falk Professor of American Government at the University of Pittsburgh. He is also the founding president of International Public Policy Association, founding co-editor of the journals Governance and European Political Science Review. His research field includes comparative public policy and administration, American public administration, comparative politics and comparative research methods.

Words from the author

“Thank you for selecting my paper as one of the best of this year. I am very pleased and honored. Many thanks again to the rest of the editors for getting this journal going so well. I look forward to continued success of the journal.”

2.Gomes, A. O. & Avellaneda, C. N. (2021). The role of pro-women institutions in addressing violence reports against women. Global Pubic Policy and Governance, 1(1), 39-60.

Abstract

Violence against women is a major public health and human rights problem. In response, countries have sought to empower and support victims and strengthen violence prevention by promoting the creation of several pro-women institutions. However, we know little about how these pro-women institutions affect reporting cases of violence against women. This study tests the reporting effects of an integrative framework that includes pro-women institutions, economic, demographic, cultural, political, and symbolic representation factors. The analysis relies on data derived from the 496 municipalities of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Violence against women is captured with reporting of (a) serious threats, (b) personal injury, (c) rape, (d) attempted murder, and (e) murder. Results seem to be contingent on the types of reporting cases and pro-women institutions. Having a police station for women issues boosts reporting cases of personal injury, and the presence of a public defender officer for women increases reporting cases of serious threats and attempted murder. Results suggest local pro-minority institutions seem to enhance government responsiveness by addressing their demands.

Authors

Adalmir de Oliveira Gomes is the associate professor at the Department of Administration, University of Brasília. His research interest lies in administration of justice, access to justice, violence against women, and local governments.

Claudia N. Avellaneda is the associate professor at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environment Affairs, Indiana University. She is also a Fischer Faculty Fellow, and Faculty Affiliate to the Ostrom Workshop, the Political Science Department, and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS). Her research areas include Governance and Public Law, International Affairs and Development, Local Governance, and Public Management. She serves as editor in chief to famous international journal Local Government Studies, and is also an editor for international journals such as JPART, PAR, PMR, and PA.

Words from the authors

“GPPG offers a venue to publish research with an international and comparative perspective, which is so much needed in governance, public policy, and public administration research. GPPG’s online access also contributes to the worldwide dissemination of research and knowledge accumulation. With an efficient and high quality review process, GPPG has the potential to continue growing to position among the top journals in the field.”

3.Xu, J. (2021). Conflicts in multi-level governance: an analysis of international climate policy implementation at the sub-national level. Global Public Policy and Governance, 1(4), 401-420.

Abstract

The complexity and multi-level nature of climate change requires governance systems able to manage and resolve conflicts across multiple scales. Drawing on the theories of collaborative governance and conflict resolution, this paper proposes a theoretical framework to understand three types of conflicts likely to occur in a multi-level governance (MLG) network: conflict in problem framing, conflict in benefit sharing, and conflict in capacity building. Using the implementation of the clean development mechanism in China as a case study, the paper finds the three types of conflicts emerged between supranational and subnational levels. The finding further indicates the role that the Chinese national government played in resolving conflicts through reinterpreting international norms, aligning presumably conflicting goals, eliminating the difference in benefits sharing, and narrowing capacity gaps across levels. The evidence suggests an improved MLG should be dedicated to integrating local level interests in centrally dominated policy processes. This study contributes new knowledge on MLG by investigating the hierarchical relations among participants and how authority and power differentials can shape their interactions across levels.

Author

Jingyuan Xu is an assistant professor at Institute for Global Public Policy (IGPP), Fudan University. Her research interests cover environmental and climate governance, public finance and budgeting and collaborative governance. Her recent articles appear in Environmental Politics, Public Money and Management, Environmental Education Research, Journal of Public Administration, among others.

Words from the author

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the editor and other members of the Editorial Board of GPPG for providing a rapid and efficient editorial process and maintaining high standards. I also appreciate the reviewers for their thoughtful suggestions that help significantly improve the quality of my manuscript. That’s an enjoyable experience and I benefit a lot from it.”