Overview

Internationalization and demands for more democratic influence at the local level have undermined the traditional methods of policy analysis. This path-breaking book is an institutional analysis of the new networks in public governance. Traditional policy analysis takes as its starting point national legislation and then traces the public policy process through the hierarchical chain of agencies which implement directives. In this book, Peter Bogason takes a postmodern approach which recognizes increasing fragmentation within institutional organizations, and offers an alternative 'bottom-up' approach to the analysis of local governance. He discusses collective action at the local level and describes how it is linked to the public sector through the need for financial, expert and legal resources, and thereby creates a link where 'public action' becomes 'public policy'. The analysis disregards which agencies have formal responsibilities for action and instead focuses on who actually makes public policy, regardless of formal status - public or private, international, central or local. This book will prove interesting reading for all students and scholars of public policy and public administration, as well as political scientists.

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9781840648911

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Reviews

'Public Policy and Local Governance is an interesting and generally well-written book (this is no minor accomplishment given the sophistication of the argument and the fact that English is not Bogason's mother-tongue). Bogason engages a wide range of disciplines in his examination, including policy science, public administration, political philosophy, sociology, economics, and cultural theory - to name a few - and uses his enviable knowledge to produce an erudite, well-rounded argument for his suggested approach to public policy analysis. These features combine with others (including a substantial bibliography and a helpful index) to offer a thoughtful study that makes a useful contribution to the existing literature.' -- Shaun P. Young, Canadian Public Administration 'This is a well-argued book.' -- Local Government Studies

Author Information

Peter Bogason, former Professor in Public Administration, Roskilde University, Denmark

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