[open-science] New Book on The Politics of Freedom of Information

Sun Feb 19 16:06:35 UTC 2017

This book touches upon some of the issues discussed in the earlier thread
regarding dichotomy between policy and practice , albeit in a different
 context, its clearly related-

*Why do governments pass freedom of information laws? The symbolic power **and
force surrounding FOI makes it appealing as an electoral promise but hard
to disengage from once in power. However, behind closed doors compromises
and manoeuvres ensure that bold policies are seriously weakened **before
they reach the statute book*.

 more below-

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: SUZANNE PIOTROWSKI <spiotrow at scarletmail.rutgers.edu>
Date: Sat, Feb 18, 2017 at 2:15 PM
Subject: New Book on The Politics of Freedom of Information

A note from Ben Worthy on his latest book.

********************************************
Dear All,

This is just a quick note to let you know about my new book *The Politics
of Freedom of Information: How and why governments pass laws that threaten
their power*, published by Manchester University Press this month. You can
read chapter one for free here
<http://d2yvuud5fila0c.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/
2017/02/02160419/Worthy-Chapter-1.pdf>
and find out more here http://www.manchesteruniversitypress.co.
uk/9780719097676/. There's also a summary of it here https://opendatastudy.
wordpress.com/2017/02/16/why-pass-foi-laws-the-politics-of-
freedom-of-information/

The blurb is below

'Why do governments pass freedom of information laws? The symbolic power
and force surrounding FOI makes it appealing as an electoral promise but
hard to disengage from once in power. However, behind closed doors
compromises and manoeuvres ensure that bold policies are seriously weakened
before they reach the statute book.

This book examines how Tony Blair's government proposed a radical FOI law
only to back down in fear of what it would do. But FOI survived, in part
due to the government's reluctance to be seen to reject a law that spoke of
'freedom', 'information' and 'rights'. After comparing the British
experience with the difficult development of FOI in Australia, India and
the United States - and the rather different cases of Ireland and New
Zealand - the book concludes by looking at how the disruptive, dynamic and
democratic effects of FOI laws continue to cause controversy once in
operation.'

Best,

Ben

Lecturer in Politics
Birkbeck College, University of London
Email: b.worthy at bbk.ac.uk
Tel: 02030738047
see http://www.bbk.ac.uk/politics/our-staff/academic/ben-worthy
<https://owa.bbk.ac.uk/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=5GLEZUVRC0tv5q62m
_Dv1Bli0wNz5YwSKLUIA0go1-EKj9gOdiLTCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AdwB3A
HcALgBiAGIAawAuAGEAYwAuAHUAawAvAHAAbwBsAGkAdABpAGMAcwAvAG8Ad
QByAC0AcwB0AGEAZgBmAC8AYQBjAGEAZABlAG0AaQBjAC8AYgBlAG4ALQB3A
G8AcgB0AGgAeQA.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.bbk.ac.uk%2fpolitics%
2four-staff%2facademic%2fben-worthy>

View my research on my SSRN Author page:
http://ssrn.com/author=1897482
<https://owa.bbk.ac.uk/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=aUrB4fUBlypCCA3lu
rsYmjBGAPavzpPUc7rPLHcGC3EKj9gOdiLTCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AcwBzA
HIAbgAuAGMAbwBtAC8AYQB1AHQAaABvAHIAPQAxADgAOQA3ADQAOAAyAA..&
URL=http%3a%2f%2fssrn.com%2fauthor%3d1897482>

View my research blog:
http://opendatastudy.wordpress.com
<https://owa.bbk.ac.uk/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=VZ1thMY31njXir8jW
55yEv_WGhBBHOx3JVKL3Sk_HDIKj9gOdiLTCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AbwBwA
GUAbgBkAGEAdABhAHMAdAB1AGQAeQAuAHcAbwByAGQAcAByAGUAcwBzAC4AY
wBvAG0A&URL=http%3a%2f%2fopendatastudy.wordpress.com>

[image: --]

Paola Di Maio
[image: https://]about.me/paoladimaio
<https://about.me/paoladimaio?promo=email_sig&utm_source=product&utm_medium=email_sig&utm_campaign=chrome_ext>
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