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Policy impacts on social innovation can have two directions: one is the implication and impact that a policy has on the Social Innovation, and the other is vice-versa and concerns the impact that Social Innovation can have on policies. The paper outines implications, impacts and roles that policies can have for specific cases of Social Innovation with the example of social farming. Interesting, social farming shows how impacts from a Social Innovation to Policy become prevalent i) when a new/specific policy gets triggered by the Social Innovation, defined as a direct policy implication; and ii) the policy implications of Social Innovation for other policies and for the political framework. Both is found in the case of new social farming regulations in Europe which were created after the social farming movement emerged and sought recognition. The first initiative for coherent policy frames was the “Witzenhausen Position paper on the Added Value of Social Farming” in 2017 that had an impact on EU level. Today, there are different versions and stages of implementation of social farming across Europe and the paper will assess and discuss their particular relevance.

Forests and harvested wood products (HWP) can significantly contribute to meet nationally determined contributions (NDC) arising from the Paris Agreement. The global forest-based sector (FBS) and its contribution to climate change mitigation is not only affected by climate change impacts and expected forest adaptation measures affecting harvest rates and wood delivery but is also facing structural changes through global shifts in production centres and changes in production and consumption patterns.The presented project analysed mid- to long-term developments in the Austrian wood-based value chain using a partial equilibrium dynamic forest sector model for different climate change impacts and related adaptation measures in the forests including six scenarios: - two business-as-usual scenarios (for RCP 4.5 and 8.5), - a scenario assuming tree species shift through adaptive management, - a catastrophe scenario with rising impacts from storm, bark beetle infestation, and dry spells, - a scenario implementing a reduction of the rotation period and - a scenario aiming at the increase of the growing stock in forests.Simulations were conducted for the time period 2010-2150 including long-term forecasts for economic framework conditions until 2050 and assumptions for constant market conditions after 2050. Results help contribute to the understanding of carbon dynamics through a cascade of models comprising forest management, harvested wood products and life cycle assessments (considering material & energy substitution). Identification of critical factors helps to assess the potential contribution of the FBS to NDC. Furthermore, associated impacts on forest product markets as well as interdependencies within the FBS can be identified.

Österreichische Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft, Bd. 41 Nr. 1 (2012): Offenes Heft

'Der vorliegende Artikel diskutiert die Einflüsse von Black Feminism auf feministische Theoriebildung. Unter Black Feminism wird im Folgenden afrikanisch-amerikanischer Feminismus verstanden, wobei dessen Hauptkritik an 'weißer' feministischer Forschungspraxis an deren unreflektierter Ausgrenzung und Dominanz ansetzt. Dabei geht es den Black Feminists vor allem um die Vernachlässigung von Differenzen zwischen Frauen. Ihre Kritik führte seit Mitte der 80er-Jahre dazu, dass innerhalb feministischer Theoriebildung die Kategorie Geschlecht um die Kategorien Ethnizität, Klasse, Sexualität, u.a. erweitert werden musste. Die Debatte in der feministischen Wissenschaft bewegte sich damit über die Geschlechterdualität hinaus hin zu einer Diskussion um die Differenzen zwischen Frauen. Damit steht sie allerdings vor neuen, beinahe unlösbaren Problemen: Wenn nicht mehr von einem gemeinsamen Kollektiv 'Wir Frauen' die Rede sein kann, ist die 'Geschäftsgrundlage' des Feminismus gefährdet. Es werden entsprechende aktuelle Debatten, Strategien und Vorschläge innerhalb der amerikanischen feministischen Theoriebildung vorgestellt.' (Autorenreferat)

Second semester University: University College Dublin

The “Final Report on Cross-Case Studies Assessment of Social Innovation” provides a transversal and systematic analysis of the Case Studies of Social innovation (SI) identified in the H2020 SIMRA project (http://www.simra-h2020.eu/) using aggregated qualitative and quantitative empirical information. The cross-case analysis identifies commonalities and differences across the cases in relation to the principal issues and characteristics of social innovation processes in Marginalised Rural Areas and examines complex and situated relationships and interactions. The cross-case assessment of the main social innovation issues and characteristics was based on the investigation of important trends identified within five cross-cutting themes of enquiry: The factors that influence the emergence and development of social innovation in terms of both the context and characteristics of actors. The process of reconfiguration and the changes of social practices (e.g. new networks, new government arrangements). The model of social innovation development and the identification of trajectory of divergence. The impacts of the social innovation on dimensions of territorial capital (economy, society, environment, governance). The analysis of policy impacts on social innovation and social innovation policy implications. In addition to the analysis undertaken for each theme of enquiry, composite indicators were calculated which were based upon the methodology developed in Secco et al. (2019) to better understand Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas on a large scale. Outputs associated with the report are recommendations on factors linked to the success and failure of social innovation initiatives in relation to impacts of policies or on policies.

Over the last decade, the term Social Innovation (SI) has received increasing attention to address complex global social problems and to add collective values.The forest sector has many potentials for fostering employment, community development and for preventing land flight. It thus appears to be a promising fieldto investigate modes of SI in terms of collective action and collective benefits through both private and public-private collaborative efforts. One of the mainadvocates of the concept has formulated briefly that social innovation can be seen as ‘new ideas that address unmet social needs – and that work’ (Mulgan et al.,2007, p; 2). The paper focuses on examples for new “social practices” that have ultimately become institutionalized and asks the question of how new actorsconstellations and organizational innovations in forestry have led to innovative business solutions. Methodologically we examine this question with exampleof qualitative in-depth case studies in different European and Mediterranean countries and study how policies have impacted in fostering these innovations. Inconclusion the paper derives the main factors for supportive policy and governance implications and provides an outlook for future governance of SI.