ABSTRACT

The Public Policy Process is essential reading for anyone trying to understand the process by which public policy is made. Explaining clearly the importance of the relationship between theoretical and practical aspects of policymaking, the book gives a thorough overview of the people and organisations involved in the process.

Fully revised and updated for an eighth edition, The Public Policy Process provides:

  • Clear exploration, using many illustrations, of how policy is made and implemented;
  • Examines challenges to effective policy making in critical areas – such as inequality and climate change – including the influence of powerful interests and the Covid-19 pandemic;
  • New material on unequal democracies, interest groups influence, behavioural policy analysis, global policies and evidence-based decision making;
  • Additional European and comparative international examples.

This text is essential reading for students of public policy, public administration and management, as well as more broadly highly relevant to related courses in health and nursing, social welfare, environment, development and local government.

part 1|126 pages

Policy theories

chapter 1|20 pages

Studying the policy process

chapter 2|28 pages

Theories of power and the policy process

chapter 3|26 pages

Interests and groups

chapter 4|16 pages

Institutional theory

chapter 5|23 pages

Comparative policy process studies

chapter 6|11 pages

Integrating theoretical approaches

part 2|202 pages

Analysis of the policy process

chapter 7|20 pages

Policy and politics

chapter 8|28 pages

Agenda setting

chapter 9|29 pages

Policy formulation

chapter 10|23 pages

Implementation: an overview

chapter 13|28 pages

The policy process in the age of governance

chapter 14|28 pages

Conclusion: evaluation and accountability