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How legislators access research in some developing countries Ajoy Datta, Research Officer 8 th December 2011

Research Politics Technocra tic networks Ideological think tanks Interna l think tanks UN/ifi think tanks Public think tanks Political parties Lobbies NGOs corporations Universities Regulatory bodies Executive Think tanks Values/ ideologies Faith based think tanks Faith leaders Media (g) Media (t) Legislature Economic interests 3

What I’m going to talk about Findings from a study on linkages between researchers and legislators – Objectives and methods – Formal linkages – Informal linkages Other resources 4

Study objectives and methods Increasing interest on the role of the legislature in promoting democratic governance Scope out how legislators access research Literature review and interviews with variety of informants + APC Diversity in income levels, political systems and traditions

Formal linkages with researchers In house capacity Libraries Information and research services Scholars appointed to legislative committees Legislature/committees with formal research agenda and resources to commission studies 6

Formal linkages with researchers External links to technocratic capacity Affiliated think tanks Individual researchers – Inputs to committee processes/help in drafting bills – Legislator scientist pairings (Uganda) External think tanks Networks and platforms 7

Formal linkages with intermediaries Individuals such as legislative staff including aides, assistants and advisors Research links with political parties Organisations who are mandated to translate academic research into key messages for legislators Research Councils 8

Informal links and personalised networks Hugely dominant and often provide basis for formal links Researchers called up on in a personal capacity Based on high trust levels, strong relationships and shared political affiliation Knowledge products often intangible and dependent on face to face contract Faster information flows 9

Future work Strength of linkages in relation to: Geographical focus Political system Type of legislature Policy areas Evaluation of linkages impact on quality of policy debates in parliaments 10

Other relevant studies Increasing amount of work studying policy processes and policymakers’ demand/use of evidence – Politics of research uptake in African policy debates (forthcoming) – Political economy of policy making in Indonesia: opportunities for increasing the demand for and use of knowledge (report available at 85&title=policy-making-political-economy- indonesia-knowledge 85&title=policy-making-political-economy- indonesia-knowledge 11

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