Jieqiong Wu

PhD candidate

Jieqiong WU is a PhD candidate in the Working Group for Public Administration in the Department of Politics and Public Administration under the supervision of Prof. Eva Thomann. Previously, Jieqiong studied and worked at some prestigious universities, including the University of Warwick, the University of Konstanz and Utrecht University. She joined the department in 2021.


Research

Jieqiong’s research interests include – but are not limited to – the following areas:

  1. Policy success. Policy success is a crucial concept in the fields of public policy and public administration. It not only pertains to whether a policy has achieved its intended outcomes and goals, but also encompasses legitimacy, political sustainability, and popularity, among other factors. The success or failure of a policy can have significant consequences for individuals, communities, the government, and society at large. Therefore, understanding the reasons behind policy success or failure is of utmost importance to both policymakers and scholars. In her doctoral project, Jieqiong investigates how scholars have conceptualized and operationalized policy success and failure, as well as the factors that explain such outcomes. This research will contribute to a deeper understanding of policy success and failure, and provide insights into how policymakers can design and implement more effective policies. By identifying the conditions that promote successful policy implementation and outcomes, policymakers can enhance the legitimacy and credibility of government institutions and democratic processes.

     
  2. E-voting. Electronic voting, also known as e-voting, is the use of technology to cast and count votes in an election. The adoption of e-voting systems has become a topic of debate in many countries. Proponents argue that e-voting can enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility of elections. However, there are also concerns regarding the security and reliability of e-voting systems, particularly with regards to security, transparency, accessibility, and acceptability. In her doctoral research, Jieqiong employs the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) method to investigate the combination of conditions that can explain the successful introduction of e-voting. By identifying these conditions, this research can contribute to a deeper understanding of e-voting and provide insights into how policymakers can implement e-voting systems that are both effective and accepted by the public.

     
  3. Cybersecurity policies. The increasing complexity of ICT systems and the tight coupling nature of cyberspace allow and enable incidents in one country, region, or sector to rapidly spill over into others. A 'new risk society' emerges in which risk is no longer exogenous, but instead 'manufactured.' Small incidents in this environment can quickly escalate into crises that seriously threaten national security, government reputation, and financial position. There is little doubt that countries have an urgent need to manage cyber threats at a national level. The question is how this need is being formulated and addressed. Jieqiong is interested in the types of public-private relations in cybersecurity policies and how do these relations contribute to the success of cybersecurity policies.

Areas of interest

  • Policy evaluation and policy success
  • E-governance and e-voting
  • Cyber governance
  • Systematic content analysis and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA)

Publications

  • Thomann, E. & Wu, J. (forthcoming). Governance in public policy. In van Gerven, M., Rothmayr Allison, C. & Schubert, K. (ed.). Encyclopaedia of Public Policy. Springer.