ABSTRACT
In discussing the concerns and methods of a range of disciplines within the social sciences, Houlihan describes the types of approaches that tend to be associated with disciplines such as sociology and psychology [4] . He notes that, in comparison to other areas of the social sciences, political science is far less neatly delineated, 'being focused on the sharply contested concept of power and its use in all its myriad forms' [5] . In addition to the lack of any neat delineation, the study of policy, politics and planning takes place at macro, meso and micro levels, with a range of concepts and theories contributing to debates at each of these levels. Furthermore, different aspects of politics, policy-making and the policy process have been studied, such as implementation, bureaucracy and control.
