Analysing Policy (Paperback)

Carol Bacchi

ISBN 10: 0733985750 / ISBN 13: 9780733985751

Published by Pearson Education (US), Frenchs Forest, NSW, 2009

About this Item

Paperback. A novel approach to thinking about public policy and a distinctive methodology for analysing policy It introduces a set of six questions that probe how 'problems' are represented in policies, followed by an injunction to apply the questions to one's own policy proposals. This form of analysis, it suggests, is crucial to understanding how policy works, how we are governed, and how the practice of policy-making implicitly constitutes us as subjects. The book mounts a challenge to the problem-solving paradigm currently dominating the intellectual and policy landscape, a paradigm manifest in 'evidence-based policy'. Arguing that such a paradigm denies the shaping that goes on in the process of problematisation, it offers a 'what's the problem represented to be?' approach to policy analysis as a counter-discourse. In this view critical thinking involves putting 'problems' into question rather than learning how to 'solve' them. Bacchi's approach to policy analysis offers exciting insights in a wide array of policy areas, including welfare, drugs/alcohol and gambling, criminal justice, health, education, immigration and population, media and research policy. Invaluable to those involved in policy studies and public administration, it will also appeal to students and academics in sociology, social work, anthropology, cultural studies and human geography. This book offers a novel approach to thinking about public policy and a new, distinctive methodolgy for analysing policy. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780733985751

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Analysing Policy (Paperback)
• Publisher: Pearson Education (US), Frenchs Forest, NSW
• Publication Date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0733985750
• ISBN 13: 9780733985751
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

A novel approach to thinking about public policy and a distinctive methodology for analysing policy

It introduces a set of six questions that probe how 'problems' are represented in policies, followed by an injunction to apply the questions to one's own policy proposals. This form of analysis, it suggests, is crucial to understanding how policy works, how we are governed, and how the practice of policy-making implicitly constitutes us as subjects.

The book mounts a challenge to the problem-solving paradigm currently dominating the intellectual and policy landscape, a paradigm manifest in 'evidence-based policy'. Arguing that such a paradigm denies the shaping that goes on in the process of problematisation, it offers a 'what's the problem represented to be?' approach to policy analysis as a counter-discourse. In this view critical thinking involves putting 'problems' into question rather than learning how to 'solve' them.

Bacchi's approach to policy analysis offers exciting insights in a wide array of policy areas, including welfare, drugs/alcohol and gambling, criminal justice, health, education, immigration and population, media and research policy. Invaluable to those involved in policy studies and public administration, it will also appeal to students and academics in sociology, social work, anthropology, cultural studies and human geography.

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About the Author

Carol Bacchi is Professor in Politics at the University of Adelaide. Her publications include Same Difference: Feminism and Sexual Difference, The Politics of Affirmative Action: 'Women', Equality and Category Politics, and Women, Policy and Politics: The Construction of Policy Problems.