position paper

English

Noun

position paper (plural position papers)

1. (philosophy, government) An essay or report which expresses a position, conclusion, or recommendation concerning a contested issue or undecided question and which usually contains arguments or reasons in support of this position.
   • 1972 February 28, “The Supporting Cast in Peking”, in Time, retrieved 30 October 2016:

     He headed the China-watching Consulate General, and in 1963 drafted a position paper for President Kennedy that recommended rapprochement with China.

   • 2001, Robert C. Solomon, “Review of Alchemies of the Mind: Rationality and the Emotions by Jon Elster”, in The Philosophical Review, volume 110, number 1, page 104:

     The first chapter is a position paper on explanation in the social sciences, a plea for "mechanisms" as opposed to law-like principles.

   • 2016 August 26, Mark Landler, “Clinton and Trump Campaigns Are Buzzing About the Race . . . for the Cabinet”, in New York Times, retrieved 30 October 2016:

     They oversee groups that are churning out position papers on counterterrorism, cybersecurity, democracy and human rights, and global development.

Translations

essay or report which expresses a position on a contested issue

• Finnish: kannanotto (fi), linjaus (fi), ohjelma (fi)
• German: Grundsatzpapier n, Positionspapier n
• Indonesian: kertas posisi
• Irish: páipéar seasaimh m
• Italian: studio (it)
• Malay: kertas pendirian
• Serbo-Croatian: dokument o službenom stavu m