The Climate Change Commission (CCC) has a mandate to provide independent, expert advice to the Ne... more The Climate Change Commission (CCC) has a mandate to provide independent, expert advice to the New Zealand Government to enhance the clarity and stability of climate change policies. This institutional innovation has occasionally been rationalised as a form of expert rule, especially by analogy with central banks. In reality, however, the CCC only has advisory powers, so lacks the practical authority to enforce rules or operate policy instruments. How then might the CCC exert greater influence on the low-emissions transition? One option is to double-down on the model of expert rulethat is, to create exceptions to parliamentary sovereignty and to empower the CCC as a technocratic (or epistocratic) institution that has independence over the means (and ends) of climate change policy. Subsequently, the CCC would have a right not only to be believed, but obeyed. But this is politically improbable and also increases the CCC's susceptibility to trends in political culture and mass media that erode the epistemic privilege of experts. Accordingly, this paper offers reasons for the CCC to deepen its entanglement with democracy, such that its epistemic authority might achieve greater practical authority by informing the ends of popular sovereignty.
Interview with artist Matthew Galloway for his exhibition, The Freedom of the Migrant, which take... more Interview with artist Matthew Galloway for his exhibition, The Freedom of the Migrant, which takes its starting point from a column published in the New Zealand Herald on 26 March 2016, written by NZME Head of Business Fran O’Sullivan. In this, O’Sullivan retells a scenario of a hypothetical terrorist attack that was presented by Sir John Key to members of the business community in Auckland, shortly after his return from a meeting of the International Democratic Union (of which Key was then Chairperson). The article opens up questions of how New Zealand politicians might position this country to benefit from the perception of its distance from current global and political instability.
Matthew Galloway uses the tools and methodologies of design to discuss the central themes introduced in Key’s hypothesis – addressing the impact and legacy of dominant political narratives constructed around terrorism and the refugee crisis, and examining how this in turn influences collective perceptions of border control, freedom of movement, and national identity. Through his research-led art practice, Galloway explores aspects of the visual language of politics, peace and conflict. A printed newspaper features a series of interviews with experts across the fields of immigration policy, terrorism and political commentary, providing an accompanying dialogue that follows the trajectory of Galloway’s research process. Through these two strands of investigation, The Freedom of the Migrant speaks to the complexity of this current period of uncertainty and change in a national and global environment.
Amartya Sen’s capability approach is a guiding light for international efforts to improve the mea... more Amartya Sen’s capability approach is a guiding light for international efforts to improve the measurement of national well-being. This article compares Sen’s nuanced philosophical ideal with the New Zealand Treasury’s Living Standards Framework, which identifies the capability approach as one of various influences. However, the idea of the capability – that is, people’s freedoms to lead the kind of lives they have reason to value – remains an interpretive possibility, rather than a design feature. To give the capability its due importance, policymakers will need to utilise this idea when making sense of the Dashboard’s indicators and instilling policy relevance.
Climate action is conventionally framed in terms of overcoming epistemic and practical disagreeme... more Climate action is conventionally framed in terms of overcoming epistemic and practical disagreement. An alternative view is to treat people's understandings of climate change as fundamentally pluralistic and to conceive of climate action accordingly. This paper explores this latter perspective through a framework of philosophical psychology, in particular Bernard Williams's distinction between internal and external reasons. This illuminates why the IPCC's framework of 'Reasons for Concern' has an inefficacious relationship to people's concerns and, hence, why additional reason giving is required. Accordingly, this paper recommends a model of truthful persuasion, which acknowledges the plurality of people's motivations and sincerely strives to connect the facts of climate change to people's subjective motivational sets.
This paper discusses the paradox of social licence faced by the forestry sector today. It explore... more This paper discusses the paradox of social licence faced by the forestry sector today. It explores how the idea of the social licence of operate (SLO) relates to the tradition of social contract theory. This philosophical detour shows that social licence is less novel and more entrenched in our politics than its critics seem to realise. The paper then turns to how social licence is realised through action and procedure, and why it is resurgent in the national conversation. Finally, I argue that social licence need not be seen as an imposition or inconvenience, but rather an opportunity to create substantive community support for efforts to align the forestry sector toward maximising public value.
Reading Room: A Journal of Art and Culture, no. 8, 2018
E H McCormick Research Library, Auckland ... more Reading Room: A Journal of Art and Culture, no. 8, 2018 E H McCormick Research Library, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Reading Room: A Journal of Art and Culture, no. 7, 2016 E H McCormick Research Library, Auckland ... more Reading Room: A Journal of Art and Culture, no. 7, 2016 E H McCormick Research Library, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
In this paper I prepare the ground for a realist political psychology by drawing on recent meth... more In this paper I prepare the ground for a realist political psychology by drawing on recent methodological debates between moralists and realists about the place of empirical facts in normative political theory. To anchor the discussion, I focus on Jonathan Haidt's social intuitionist model (SIM) of moral and political judgment, an empirically grounded theory that has risen to prominence over the last decade. I argue that the SIM does not, as Haidt presumes, present a substantive challenge to rationalist normative philosophy. What is needed is a more critical framework; accordingly, I examine the SIM in relation to political realism, especially the work of Bernard Williams. However, any such alliance must involve a reckoning with realism's critical theory commitments, directed in particular toward Haidt's interpretation of his empirical findings. These discussions create the space for a realist political psychology, which balances the demand for empirical reflection with the philosophical sophistication of existing political theories.
Climate crisis is upon us. By choice or necessity, New Zealand will transition to a low-emissions... more Climate crisis is upon us. By choice or necessity, New Zealand will transition to a low-emissions future. But can this revolution be careful? Can it be attentive to the disruptions it inevitably creates? Or will carefulness simply delay and dilute the changes that future people require of us? This timely collection brings together eleven authors to explore the politics and practicalities of the low-emissions transition, touching on issues of justice, tikanga, trade-offs, finance, futurism, adaptation, and more.
‘Our migration policy impacts on New Zealand citizens, on recent immigrants and on people who are... more ‘Our migration policy impacts on New Zealand citizens, on recent immigrants and on people who are never permitted to set foot on this land. It creates prosperity for some and hardship for others.’
Debates over immigration are heating up – with grave political consequences. Fair Borders draws together a broad set of writers to discuss whether New Zealand’s immigration policy offers a 'fair go’ to those just arriving, and to those who arrived a long time ago. This edited collection includes new and diverse perspectives that go beyond the boundaries of popular debate, in which migrants are too often treated as numbers, not people.
This report, prepared by Mōhio's Climate Innovation Lab, explores the opportunities for financial... more This report, prepared by Mōhio's Climate Innovation Lab, explores the opportunities for financial innovation to drive more climate-aligned outcomes for forestry in Aotearoa New Zealand.
In this discussion paper, The Policy Observatory’s Dr David Hall explores the ways that New Zeala... more In this discussion paper, The Policy Observatory’s Dr David Hall explores the ways that New Zealanders think about the landscape, and how these ideas influence actual decisions about land use. To put New Zealand on the path of long-term prosperity, he endorses the Interwoven World, Te Ao i Whiria, a vision of the landscape that combines and intermingles diverse land use systems. With issues like water quality, climate change and the One Billion Trees Programme high on the public agenda, this discussion paper invites a conversation about the kinds of landscapes we want to live with, and the landscapes we ought to avoid.
This article examines whether social impact bonds (SIBs) might fruitfully
translate into the envi... more This article examines whether social impact bonds (SIBs) might fruitfully translate into the environmental domain. SIBs can be regarded as an auxiliary to the social investment approach, as an outcomes-oriented financial instrument that is partially justified by the same imperatives used to justify the social investment approach, particularly the imperatives to reduce public sector expenditure and to shift service delivery to the non-governmental sector. I conclude that the SIB model is feasible for environmental interventions, and that, indeed, the shift from social to environmental outcomes might sidestep some of the ethical and methodological challenges that social impact bonds face.
This report, prepared by consultancy Mōhio, examines climate finance in New Zealand. It include... more This report, prepared by consultancy Mōhio, examines climate finance in New Zealand. It includes a snapshot of key existing climate finance flows and a look at the instruments available to the Government and private sector such as grants, debt and bonds.
The report also outlines the enabling environment required to better facilitate the flows of finance toward low emissions and climate-resilient outcomes. This includes considerations such as information flows, tracking, regulations, organisational forms, and wider alignment across innovation, research and development and other environmental and social outcomes.
The Climate Change Commission (CCC) has a mandate to provide independent, expert advice to the Ne... more The Climate Change Commission (CCC) has a mandate to provide independent, expert advice to the New Zealand Government to enhance the clarity and stability of climate change policies. This institutional innovation has occasionally been rationalised as a form of expert rule, especially by analogy with central banks. In reality, however, the CCC only has advisory powers, so lacks the practical authority to enforce rules or operate policy instruments. How then might the CCC exert greater influence on the low-emissions transition? One option is to double-down on the model of expert rulethat is, to create exceptions to parliamentary sovereignty and to empower the CCC as a technocratic (or epistocratic) institution that has independence over the means (and ends) of climate change policy. Subsequently, the CCC would have a right not only to be believed, but obeyed. But this is politically improbable and also increases the CCC's susceptibility to trends in political culture and mass media that erode the epistemic privilege of experts. Accordingly, this paper offers reasons for the CCC to deepen its entanglement with democracy, such that its epistemic authority might achieve greater practical authority by informing the ends of popular sovereignty.
Interview with artist Matthew Galloway for his exhibition, The Freedom of the Migrant, which take... more Interview with artist Matthew Galloway for his exhibition, The Freedom of the Migrant, which takes its starting point from a column published in the New Zealand Herald on 26 March 2016, written by NZME Head of Business Fran O’Sullivan. In this, O’Sullivan retells a scenario of a hypothetical terrorist attack that was presented by Sir John Key to members of the business community in Auckland, shortly after his return from a meeting of the International Democratic Union (of which Key was then Chairperson). The article opens up questions of how New Zealand politicians might position this country to benefit from the perception of its distance from current global and political instability.
Matthew Galloway uses the tools and methodologies of design to discuss the central themes introduced in Key’s hypothesis – addressing the impact and legacy of dominant political narratives constructed around terrorism and the refugee crisis, and examining how this in turn influences collective perceptions of border control, freedom of movement, and national identity. Through his research-led art practice, Galloway explores aspects of the visual language of politics, peace and conflict. A printed newspaper features a series of interviews with experts across the fields of immigration policy, terrorism and political commentary, providing an accompanying dialogue that follows the trajectory of Galloway’s research process. Through these two strands of investigation, The Freedom of the Migrant speaks to the complexity of this current period of uncertainty and change in a national and global environment.
Amartya Sen’s capability approach is a guiding light for international efforts to improve the mea... more Amartya Sen’s capability approach is a guiding light for international efforts to improve the measurement of national well-being. This article compares Sen’s nuanced philosophical ideal with the New Zealand Treasury’s Living Standards Framework, which identifies the capability approach as one of various influences. However, the idea of the capability – that is, people’s freedoms to lead the kind of lives they have reason to value – remains an interpretive possibility, rather than a design feature. To give the capability its due importance, policymakers will need to utilise this idea when making sense of the Dashboard’s indicators and instilling policy relevance.
Climate action is conventionally framed in terms of overcoming epistemic and practical disagreeme... more Climate action is conventionally framed in terms of overcoming epistemic and practical disagreement. An alternative view is to treat people's understandings of climate change as fundamentally pluralistic and to conceive of climate action accordingly. This paper explores this latter perspective through a framework of philosophical psychology, in particular Bernard Williams's distinction between internal and external reasons. This illuminates why the IPCC's framework of 'Reasons for Concern' has an inefficacious relationship to people's concerns and, hence, why additional reason giving is required. Accordingly, this paper recommends a model of truthful persuasion, which acknowledges the plurality of people's motivations and sincerely strives to connect the facts of climate change to people's subjective motivational sets.
This paper discusses the paradox of social licence faced by the forestry sector today. It explore... more This paper discusses the paradox of social licence faced by the forestry sector today. It explores how the idea of the social licence of operate (SLO) relates to the tradition of social contract theory. This philosophical detour shows that social licence is less novel and more entrenched in our politics than its critics seem to realise. The paper then turns to how social licence is realised through action and procedure, and why it is resurgent in the national conversation. Finally, I argue that social licence need not be seen as an imposition or inconvenience, but rather an opportunity to create substantive community support for efforts to align the forestry sector toward maximising public value.
Reading Room: A Journal of Art and Culture, no. 8, 2018
E H McCormick Research Library, Auckland ... more Reading Room: A Journal of Art and Culture, no. 8, 2018 E H McCormick Research Library, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Reading Room: A Journal of Art and Culture, no. 7, 2016 E H McCormick Research Library, Auckland ... more Reading Room: A Journal of Art and Culture, no. 7, 2016 E H McCormick Research Library, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
In this paper I prepare the ground for a realist political psychology by drawing on recent meth... more In this paper I prepare the ground for a realist political psychology by drawing on recent methodological debates between moralists and realists about the place of empirical facts in normative political theory. To anchor the discussion, I focus on Jonathan Haidt's social intuitionist model (SIM) of moral and political judgment, an empirically grounded theory that has risen to prominence over the last decade. I argue that the SIM does not, as Haidt presumes, present a substantive challenge to rationalist normative philosophy. What is needed is a more critical framework; accordingly, I examine the SIM in relation to political realism, especially the work of Bernard Williams. However, any such alliance must involve a reckoning with realism's critical theory commitments, directed in particular toward Haidt's interpretation of his empirical findings. These discussions create the space for a realist political psychology, which balances the demand for empirical reflection with the philosophical sophistication of existing political theories.
Climate crisis is upon us. By choice or necessity, New Zealand will transition to a low-emissions... more Climate crisis is upon us. By choice or necessity, New Zealand will transition to a low-emissions future. But can this revolution be careful? Can it be attentive to the disruptions it inevitably creates? Or will carefulness simply delay and dilute the changes that future people require of us? This timely collection brings together eleven authors to explore the politics and practicalities of the low-emissions transition, touching on issues of justice, tikanga, trade-offs, finance, futurism, adaptation, and more.
‘Our migration policy impacts on New Zealand citizens, on recent immigrants and on people who are... more ‘Our migration policy impacts on New Zealand citizens, on recent immigrants and on people who are never permitted to set foot on this land. It creates prosperity for some and hardship for others.’
Debates over immigration are heating up – with grave political consequences. Fair Borders draws together a broad set of writers to discuss whether New Zealand’s immigration policy offers a 'fair go’ to those just arriving, and to those who arrived a long time ago. This edited collection includes new and diverse perspectives that go beyond the boundaries of popular debate, in which migrants are too often treated as numbers, not people.
This report, prepared by Mōhio's Climate Innovation Lab, explores the opportunities for financial... more This report, prepared by Mōhio's Climate Innovation Lab, explores the opportunities for financial innovation to drive more climate-aligned outcomes for forestry in Aotearoa New Zealand.
In this discussion paper, The Policy Observatory’s Dr David Hall explores the ways that New Zeala... more In this discussion paper, The Policy Observatory’s Dr David Hall explores the ways that New Zealanders think about the landscape, and how these ideas influence actual decisions about land use. To put New Zealand on the path of long-term prosperity, he endorses the Interwoven World, Te Ao i Whiria, a vision of the landscape that combines and intermingles diverse land use systems. With issues like water quality, climate change and the One Billion Trees Programme high on the public agenda, this discussion paper invites a conversation about the kinds of landscapes we want to live with, and the landscapes we ought to avoid.
This article examines whether social impact bonds (SIBs) might fruitfully
translate into the envi... more This article examines whether social impact bonds (SIBs) might fruitfully translate into the environmental domain. SIBs can be regarded as an auxiliary to the social investment approach, as an outcomes-oriented financial instrument that is partially justified by the same imperatives used to justify the social investment approach, particularly the imperatives to reduce public sector expenditure and to shift service delivery to the non-governmental sector. I conclude that the SIB model is feasible for environmental interventions, and that, indeed, the shift from social to environmental outcomes might sidestep some of the ethical and methodological challenges that social impact bonds face.
This report, prepared by consultancy Mōhio, examines climate finance in New Zealand. It include... more This report, prepared by consultancy Mōhio, examines climate finance in New Zealand. It includes a snapshot of key existing climate finance flows and a look at the instruments available to the Government and private sector such as grants, debt and bonds.
The report also outlines the enabling environment required to better facilitate the flows of finance toward low emissions and climate-resilient outcomes. This includes considerations such as information flows, tracking, regulations, organisational forms, and wider alignment across innovation, research and development and other environmental and social outcomes.
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Papers by David Hall
Matthew Galloway uses the tools and methodologies of design to discuss the central themes introduced in Key’s hypothesis – addressing the impact and legacy of dominant political narratives constructed around terrorism and the refugee crisis, and examining how this in turn influences collective perceptions of border control, freedom of movement, and national identity. Through his research-led art practice, Galloway explores aspects of the visual language of politics, peace and conflict. A printed newspaper features a series of interviews with experts across the fields of immigration policy, terrorism and political commentary, providing an accompanying dialogue that follows the trajectory of Galloway’s research process. Through these two strands of investigation, The Freedom of the Migrant speaks to the complexity of this current period of uncertainty and change in a national and global environment.
E H McCormick Research Library, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Books by David Hall
Debates over immigration are heating up – with grave political consequences. Fair Borders draws together a broad set of writers to discuss whether New Zealand’s immigration policy offers a 'fair go’ to those just arriving, and to those who arrived a long time ago. This edited collection includes new and diverse perspectives that go beyond the boundaries of popular debate, in which migrants are too often treated as numbers, not people.
Reports by David Hall
translate into the environmental domain. SIBs can be regarded as an auxiliary to the social investment approach, as an outcomes-oriented financial instrument that is partially justified by the same imperatives used to justify the social investment approach, particularly the imperatives to reduce public sector expenditure and to shift service delivery to the non-governmental sector. I conclude that the SIB model is feasible for environmental interventions, and that, indeed, the shift from social to environmental outcomes might sidestep some of the ethical and methodological challenges that social impact bonds face.
The report also outlines the enabling environment required to better facilitate the flows of finance toward low emissions and climate-resilient outcomes. This includes considerations such as information flows, tracking, regulations, organisational forms, and wider alignment across innovation, research and development and other environmental and social outcomes.
Matthew Galloway uses the tools and methodologies of design to discuss the central themes introduced in Key’s hypothesis – addressing the impact and legacy of dominant political narratives constructed around terrorism and the refugee crisis, and examining how this in turn influences collective perceptions of border control, freedom of movement, and national identity. Through his research-led art practice, Galloway explores aspects of the visual language of politics, peace and conflict. A printed newspaper features a series of interviews with experts across the fields of immigration policy, terrorism and political commentary, providing an accompanying dialogue that follows the trajectory of Galloway’s research process. Through these two strands of investigation, The Freedom of the Migrant speaks to the complexity of this current period of uncertainty and change in a national and global environment.
E H McCormick Research Library, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Debates over immigration are heating up – with grave political consequences. Fair Borders draws together a broad set of writers to discuss whether New Zealand’s immigration policy offers a 'fair go’ to those just arriving, and to those who arrived a long time ago. This edited collection includes new and diverse perspectives that go beyond the boundaries of popular debate, in which migrants are too often treated as numbers, not people.
translate into the environmental domain. SIBs can be regarded as an auxiliary to the social investment approach, as an outcomes-oriented financial instrument that is partially justified by the same imperatives used to justify the social investment approach, particularly the imperatives to reduce public sector expenditure and to shift service delivery to the non-governmental sector. I conclude that the SIB model is feasible for environmental interventions, and that, indeed, the shift from social to environmental outcomes might sidestep some of the ethical and methodological challenges that social impact bonds face.
The report also outlines the enabling environment required to better facilitate the flows of finance toward low emissions and climate-resilient outcomes. This includes considerations such as information flows, tracking, regulations, organisational forms, and wider alignment across innovation, research and development and other environmental and social outcomes.