I am an interdisciplinary social scientist working at the intersection of sustainability, public policy, and comparative politics. My research examines the policy, politics, and governance of complex public good problems – especially climate change – at national and subnational scales. This centres on the interaction between policy, institutions, and civil society within processes of societal transformation. I pursue three key lines of study:
1) The politics of policy action, at both policy adoption and post-adoption stages. I examine policy backlash (involving elites and mass publics), legitimacy, policy feedback, and contestation.
2) Processes of institutional change to adapt and transform institutions. I examine how and why institutions are ‘remade’ in response to changing contexts and needs.
3) The politics and governance of sustainability transformations. I especially focus on the role of the state and public authority in advancing ambitious action within diverse and heterogeneous societies.
