Dr Dave Mckenna
For a full copy of my academic CV please contact me.
Profile
- Experienced local government practitioner
- Achieved part time PhD while working full time
- Qualitative researcher experienced in public sector settings
- Author of peer reviewed journal articles
- Former manager of scrutiny and partnership support teams
Education
2007-2015
PhD in Politics, Swansea University, Department of Political and Cultural Studies
Thesis Title: UK Local Government and Public Participation: A Discourse on Incompatibility (pdf)
This thesis explores how the institutional structures of local politics limit the impact of public participation initiatives within the policy process. The empirical material came from three local government case studies
- Supervisor: Professor Jonathan Bradbury
- External Examiner: Professor Vivien Lowndes, University of Birmingham
- Internal Examiner: Dr Dion Curry
2002-2005 MA. (Distinction), Public Policy & Management, Swansea University, National Centre for Public Policy
Dissertation Title: Cogs, community and car boot sales: Understanding motivation in policy networks (pdf)
1992–1995 Msc. Housing, Cardiff University, Centre for Housing Management and Development
Dissertation Title: Talking gets you nowhere: Critical and tenant centred approaches to participation in the management of council housing (pdf)
1985–1989 Bsc. Econ (2:1), Politics and Social History Swansea University
Publications
From 2007 to 2015 I completed a PhD while working full time. The majority of the publications below are my research output during this period.
Journal Articles
McKenna, D. (2012) ‘Local politicians’ attitudes towards participatory initiatives: a Bulpittian perspective’, Public Money and Management, 32, 2, 103-110.
McKenna, D. (2011) ‘UK Local Government and Public Participation: Using Conjectures to Explain the Relationship’, Public Administration, 89, 3, 1182-1200.
Conference Papers
Mckenna, D (2014) Exploring the representative behaviours of local politicians: The example of biased mediation. (pdf) Paper for Rebels and Radicals, 64th Political Studies Association Annual International Conference, Manchester
Mckenna, D (2013) Strategies, Norms and Rules: Applying the Grammar of Institutions to Local Politics. (pdf) Paper for The Party’s Over?, 63rd Political Studies Association Annual International Conference, Cardiff
Resende P.E.R, Karlsson, M and Mckenna D. (2012) Context versus structure: How local political elites respond to co-governance initiatives in different national settings. (pdf), Paper for the European Group for Public Administration Annual Conference, Bergen, Norway
McKenna, D. (2012) The prospects for regional collaboration scrutiny: A view from Wales. (Pdf) Paper to “Sustainability, Regionalism and Changing Public Administration” The Annual Conference of the Public Administration Committee (PAC), Plymouth University July 2012
McKenna, D. (2010) An Elite Approach to Institutional Analysis of Local Government: Local Governing Codes and the Local Political Leadership Reform Process in the UK. (Pdf) Paper Presented at the 61st Political Studies Association Annual Conference “Transforming Politics: New Synergies”, London, April 2011
McKenna, D. (2010) Using Local Statecraft to Explain the Attitudes and Behaviours of Local Political Elites Toward Public Participation Initiatives. (Pdf) Paper for the Public Administration Committee Conference “Public administration in an era of austerity” Nottingham Conference Centre, Nottingham Trent University. Also presented to: “Interpreting Democratic Governance”, De Montfort University, Leicester, September 2010
McKenna, D. (2009) UK Local Government and Public Participation: Using Conjectures to Explain the Relationship. (Pdf) Paper for the Public Administration Committee Annual Conference, University of Glamorgan, September 2009
McKenna, D. (2009) Get to Your Ivory Towers: Local Government and Research Degrees. (Pdf) Paper for the Public Administration Committee Conference University of Glamorgan, September 2009
Other Articles
McKenna, D. (2006) ‘The new localopolis: three principles’, (Pdf) in Localopolis: Governance and citizenship in the 21st century. Bennett, M (Ed). SOLACE Foundation Imprint
Interests
As an academic I have a continuing interest in:
- Public governance and accountability in single and multi-agency settings
- Public participation in local government and the effectiveness of democratic innovations
- Institutional analysis specifically Ostrom’s Institutional Grammar Tool
- Local political elites and the opportunities / constraints of local politics
Methods
- Critical realist assumptions applied within PhD
- Used mixed method case studies in PhD research to explore institutional effects in different organisational settings
- Experienced researcher in public service settings including survey instruments, focus groups and semi structured interviews
Teaching
Teaching Assistant, Swansea University
- 2017 British Political History (level 2)
- 2016 British Political History (level 2)
- 2014 Public Policy (MA) seminars ( Policy Transfer and Elite Politics)
Conference Panel Chair
Coproduction: a participatory model for public service delivery Rebels and Radicals, 64th Political Studies Association Annual International Conference, Manchester
Different with Digital: Scenarios for a Rewired Local Democracy Civic Pride, 65th Political Studies Association Annual International Conference, Sheffield
Professional Memberships
- Political Studies Association (Member of the Local Politics Group)