ABSTRACT
The literature concerning the factors which influence, shape and even 'cause' public policy is now immense. Political economy is at the top of the hierarchy of salient factors in delimiting and explaining public policy. Political scientists and students of public administration have predictably extended and applied the 'garbage can' approach to the public policy process. Just as many post-modernist 'management theorists' are philosophers-manques, it seems that many 'rational choice' political scientists are motivated by 'showing their macho' in the disciplinary straggle for hegemony with economics. It is important however not to 'reify' political structures and institutions so that the analyst is blinded to their different use in different eras or under different 'regimes' in political economy. Political science has analysed for decades the interplay of interests, 'networks', elites and the operation of power in allegedly 'pluralist' political systems.
