Policy Transfer and Transnational NGO Networks

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the roles of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the adoption of standardised packaging (SP) for cigarettes in Ireland and the adoption of the revised Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) by the European Union (EU). Transnational networks between NGOs and other policy actors in Australia, Ireland, the United Kingdom (UK) and at the EU level are identified as facilitating three types of policy learning between jurisdictions: horizontal-consecutive policy learning, characterising the relationship between Australian and Irish NGOs; horizontal-concurrent policy learning, characterising the relationship between Irish and UK NGOs; and vertical policy learning, characterising the relationship between NGOs active at the EU level and those based in member states such as Ireland. The latter two types of policy learning may be bi-directional.