The Policy Ontologies project thinks critically about what policy is, how it is made, and how it links to human and social practices. It does this by exploring policy materialities, through consideration of power, agency and human experience. Project activities include: two events series (Policy Ontologies, Critical Conversations), writing projects, and the Understanding Policy project, which explores how senior policymakers think about their place and power in policymaking processes. Find out more:
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Dobson, R. (2020) Local Government and Practice Ontologies: sector speaks in housing and homelessness services, Local Government Studies. Themed edition, ‘The Logics of Local Government & Austerity’.
Dobson, R. (2017) Recollection-As-Method in Social Welfare Practice: experience, theory & practice, Qualitative Research Journal, 17 (3), 164-176. Themed edition, ‘Bordering, exclusions and necropolitics’ Dobson, R. (2015) Power, Agency, Relationality and Welfare Practice, Journal of Social Policy, 44(4), 687-705 |
About Rachael
Rachael's research is informed by the central principle to work critically across theory, policy and practice, for the purposes of social justice. Her work has theorised the role of policy actors in the everyday 'making-of' welfare state institutions, and their capacities for resistance, through everyday, conscious and unconscious, social practices and actions (Dobson, 2020). She achieved a Leverhulme Research Fellowship award for 'Where Is The Power? Policy Ontologies In Theory and Practice' (2021-22).
Policy
Rachael has over a decade’s experience of policy editorial, referee and learned society activity. She was member of the editorial collective for Critical Social Policy (2011-2024), a highly ranked, peer reviewed journal that provides an international forum for debate on social policy and welfare issues from socialist, feminist, anti-racist and radical perspectives. She was twice elected to the Social Policy Association, latterly as Honorary Secretary.
Professional
As an academic Rachael has held lectureships at the University of Leeds, Kingston University and now Birkbeck College, University of London, and Visiting Fellowships at the University of New South Wales and University of Sydney. Prior to academic life, Rachael worked as a local government homelessness practitioner, and has worked as a consultant, facilitator and trainer with organisations involved in homelessness and adult social care policy. These experiences are reflected in Rachael's research on vulnerable adults with ‘complex needs’, as it relates to policy, legislation and models of support (Dobson, 2022; 2019; 2016).
Rachael has over a decade’s experience of policy editorial, referee and learned society activity. She was member of the editorial collective for Critical Social Policy (2011-2024), a highly ranked, peer reviewed journal that provides an international forum for debate on social policy and welfare issues from socialist, feminist, anti-racist and radical perspectives. She was twice elected to the Social Policy Association, latterly as Honorary Secretary.
Professional
As an academic Rachael has held lectureships at the University of Leeds, Kingston University and now Birkbeck College, University of London, and Visiting Fellowships at the University of New South Wales and University of Sydney. Prior to academic life, Rachael worked as a local government homelessness practitioner, and has worked as a consultant, facilitator and trainer with organisations involved in homelessness and adult social care policy. These experiences are reflected in Rachael's research on vulnerable adults with ‘complex needs’, as it relates to policy, legislation and models of support (Dobson, 2022; 2019; 2016).
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