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Handlungsspielräume

English translation: policy options

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Handlungsspielräume
English translation:policy options
Entered by: Dr. Kathleen Cross

14:57 Jun 2, 2004
German to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Government / Politics
German term or phrase: Handlungsspielräume
The context is the contrast between national and transnational political spheres. Example: die Erweiterung nationaler Handlungsspielräume zur Bearbeitung transnationaler sowie nationaler Probleme.
Am I right in thinking that English doesn't have any snappy solutions to this term..?!
Dr. Kathleen Cross
Germany
Local time: 03:22
policy options
Explanation:
*
Selected response from:

desiderata (X)
Grading comment
Best suited to my context - thank you very much.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5leeway
Steffen Walter
4 +2room to maneuver (US spelling)
Kim Metzger
3 +3Probably the closest
John Bowden
3 +2latitude
Cilian O'Tuama
3 +2scope/ options/ competences
Olaf Reibedanz
4 +1policy options
desiderata (X)
4 -1margins for manoeuvre
CMJ_Trans (X)
2breathing space?
faws


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
room to maneuver (US spelling)


Explanation:
the expansion of room to maneuver on a national level


Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 19:22
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 252

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  John Bowden
2 mins
agree  Ariser
9 mins
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5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Probably the closest


Explanation:
is "room for manoeuvre" - perhaps something like "nations now have increased room to manoeuvre when tackling national and cross-border problems..."?


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Note added at 2004-06-02 15:04:05 (GMT)
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room *to*...

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Note added at 2004-06-02 15:30:38 (GMT)
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Crosstrans, I don\'t think \"room for manoeuvre/maneuver\" necessarily implies bheing in a tight spot; it depends on the rest of the sentence: \"He didn\'t have much room to manoeuvre\" would have this meaning, but you could equally well say \"We had plenty of room to manoeuvre as far as price was concerned\"

John Bowden
Local time: 02:22
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Steffen Walter: or "nation states" or "national governments", as opposed to supranational institutions, such as the EU
2 mins
agree  Orla Ryan
3 mins
agree  Monika Leit
8 mins
  -> Thanks everybody!
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6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
margins for manoeuvre


Explanation:
also

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Note added at 2004-06-02 15:14:01 (GMT)
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in this context you might be able to get away with PLAYING FIELDS

Larger playing fields for dealing with....



CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 03:22
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 40

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Jeremy Amos: Definitely not playing fields!
53 mins
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The asker has declined this answer

7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
Handlungsspielräume
breathing space?


Explanation:
might fit in some contexts

faws
Local time: 03:22
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
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The asker has declined this answer

9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Handlungsspielräume
latitude


Explanation:
I think we had this before so it should be in the glossary

but to me 'national latitude' sounds strange, naja

Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Local time: 03:22
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 24

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  John Bowden: Could be, but to me "latitude" often seems to be slightly negative or pejorative - "banks have far too much latitude to raise interest rates whenever they feel like it" - almost "Narrenfreiheit"
18 mins
  -> I don't see it as being as negative as you do, IMO practically synonymous with freedom or leeway
agree  Alarch Gwyn
35 mins
agree  Jeremy Amos: I agree with Cilian, I don't think this term carries any negative connotation at all - perhaps "latitude for action" (or sonething similar) latitude leaves out the "Handlungs".
53 mins
  -> Thanks. Merriam-Webster says: latitude - freedom of action or choice (so that covers the 'Handlung')
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Handlungsspielräume
scope/ options/ competences


Explanation:
to extend the scope of competences for national governements to deal with national and international problems

to increase options for national governements to deal with national and international problems

to increase national governements' competences to deal with national and international problems


http://dict.leo.org/?search=handlungsspielraum&searchLoc=0&r...

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Note added at 12 mins (2004-06-02 15:10:26 GMT)
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to provide national governments with greater competences enabling them to tackle both national and international problems more effectively

Olaf Reibedanz
Colombia
Local time: 20:22
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  John Bowden: With "scope" or "options" - but I never like "competences/competencies"
20 mins
agree  Terry Gilman: scope/freedom of action, possibly (greater) scope of authority; (with John on the 'c' word)
2 hrs
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
Handlungsspielräume
leeway


Explanation:
Nation states/national governments (now) enjoy more leeway when it comes to resolving transnational and national issues.

I like "room to manoeuvre", too, though.

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Note added at 21 mins (2004-06-02 15:19:35 GMT)
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Another idea in the light of the recent additions above:

the extension of nation states\'/national governments\' ***sovereignty*** with regard to the resolution of transnational and national issues (OR a higher degree of sovereignty for national governments...)

(which would be in contrast with the EU trend of increasingly delegating sovereignty to the supranational level)

Steffen Walter
Germany
Local time: 03:22
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 149

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ariser
3 mins
agree  John Bowden: Good idea: http://www.bartleby.com/68/7/3607.html defines leeway in its figurative sense as "acceptable range for free movement", which seems to fit the context.
14 mins
agree  Sabine Griebler
16 mins
agree  Terry Gilman
2 hrs
agree  Mario Marcolin
15 hrs
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Handlungsspielräume
policy options


Explanation:
*

desiderata (X)
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Best suited to my context - thank you very much.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  KirstyMacC (X): also incorporates the plural.
13 hrs
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