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Policy Making in Britain
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Policy Making in Britain
An Introduction

Second Edition


April 2014 | 344 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Introducing you to the public policy making process in Britain today, this book adopts an empirical approach to the study of policy making by relating theory to actual developments in Britain since the 1980s. It covers:
  • Ideas, Problem Definition, Issues and Agenda-Setting
  • Key Individuals
  • Key Institutions
  • Parliament and Public Policy Implementation
  • The shift from Government to Governance (including marketization, and devolution)
  • The increasing role of the private and voluntary sectors in policy delivery
  • Internationalisation and Europeanization of policies and policy making
  • Evaluation, audits and the New Public Management
Each chapter is enriched by recent real-life case studies and boxes illustrating key arguments, concepts and empirical developments. Taking into account the 2010 election and beyond, the book addresses current issues, developments and debates.

The result is a contemporary and engaging text that will be required reading for all students of British politics, public policy and public administration. 
 
Problem Definition and Policy Agendas
 
Policy Advocates: Political Parties, Think Tanks and Organized Interests
 
The Core Executive, Part One: The Individuals and their Policy Roles
 
The Core Executive, Part Two: The Institutions and the Policy Roles
 
Parliament and Public Policy
 
From Government to Governance
 
The Internationalization of Public Policy
 
Policy Implementation
 
Policy Evaluation

A well written book critically discussing topical issues surrounding policy making in the UK.

Mr Michael Parsons
Faculty of Business and Society, University of South Wales
April 17, 2015

This is a comprehensive overview of the policy making process in Britain, and is useful as a supplimentary text for students on introductory courses for social policy, as many need a grounding in how policy gets made as much as the details and consequences of the policies themselves

Mr Craig Worrall
Health and Social Care, Coventry University College
March 30, 2015

A good book that will complement the existing text books in a course that explores how crime can be prevented and reduced.

Ms Allison Savory
Department of Social Sciences, Bucks New University
March 24, 2015

This text provides an accessible and thorough introduction to those new to politics and policy-making. It also helps those with more prior knowledge and interest take their understanding further.
The boxes offer useful and concise summaries for teaching and class discussions.

Ms Jo Bishop
Youth Work and Community Development, School of Health and Community Studies, Leeds Beckett University
March 10, 2015

If undertaking any kind of policy analysis this book would prove very useful. Makes the 'messy' nature of policy easy to understand by the way it is broken down into key topic areas and examines core subjects such as political ideology and policy agenda.

Miss Louise Kay
Department of Education, Huddersfield University
January 18, 2015

This is a very good textbook that offers students a good overview of the policy process in the UK context. It works very well as a source of recommended readings on public policy institutions, and is especially useful insofar as it connects these institutions to the main theories and concepts in public policy.

Dr Paul Gunn
Politics Department, Goldsmiths College
January 6, 2015

This revised edition is greatly appreciated as many books on policy analysis are quite dated. The book provides students with an excellent overview of the policy process and includes some good examples related to social policy.

Jo Ellard
Department of Sport and Exercise, Staffordshire University
August 14, 2014

This revised edition has new chapters and is an essential read for students of UK politics and social policy.

Miss Martina Kirlew
Health and Social Care, Univ. of Bolton
July 21, 2014

interesting and well-researched

Dr Spyros Themelis
Sch of Education & Lifelong Learning, Univ. of East Anglia
June 4, 2014

This is a useful additional text book to be used in Social Policy. Helps students to understand the reasons for policy making in Britain.

Mrs Cheryl Hine
Access to H.E., Leeds City College
May 22, 2014
Key features

New to the Second Edition of Policy Making in Britain:

  • Updated to account for changes in British politics since the 2010 election
  • More of an emphasis on theory
  • More content on devolution and Europe, particularly in the new chapter 7 'The Internationalization of Policy'
  • A chapter on 'Policy Evaluation', covering the role of audits, evidence-based policy making and pilot schemes.
  • Updated to account for changes in British politics since the 2010 election
  • More of an emphasis on theory
  • More content on devolution and Europe, particularly in the new chapter 7 'The Internationalization of Policy'
  • A chapter on 'Policy Evaluation', covering the role of audits, evidence-based policy making and pilot schemes.

For instructors

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Paperback
ISBN: 9781849208482
£37.99

Hardcover
ISBN: 9781849208475
£136.00