Beyond Machiavelli
Policy Analysis Comes of Age
Published on 26. April 2000
Book
Paperback/Softback
160 pages
978-0-87840-773-6 (ISBN)
Description
Policy analysis is a relatively young field, created in the 1960s as a way to introduce data and rationality into the decision-making process. In "Beyond Machiavelli", Beryl A. Radin compares policy analysis in the 1960s with its practice in the 1990s, analyzing the transformations the profession has undergone since its birth and offering a provocative conception of its practice today. All new professions go through a maturation process, but Radin points out that policy analysis is more susceptible to change because it is directly affected by shifting political values. The United States of the 1960s was characterized by a strong belief in progress, a trust in the public sector, and a reliance on experts. By the 1990s, Americans were less confident about the future, not as trustful of the government, and less willing to defer to so-called experts. Even so, the number and range of policy analysis jobs has grown markedly. Radin explores the significant changes that have taken place in the field, including attitudes toward politics, skills and methodologies required, views about information and data, and shifts in modes of decision making.
She includes profiles of six very diverse policy analysis organizations to illustrate these changes. While some argue that the 1960s were the golden day of the profession when decision makers listened to experts, Radin argues that the earlier version of the field held to traditions of elitism and secrecy and that policy analysis in the 1990s, pluralistic and open, is a more democratic American profession.
She includes profiles of six very diverse policy analysis organizations to illustrate these changes. While some argue that the 1960s were the golden day of the profession when decision makers listened to experts, Radin argues that the earlier version of the field held to traditions of elitism and secrecy and that policy analysis in the 1990s, pluralistic and open, is a more democratic American profession.
Reviews / Votes
"A valuable contribution to the continuing discussion of what it means for scholars and their practitioner students to be engaged in public discourse." -- Administrative Praxis & Theory "The book is clear, logical, engaging, and straightforward... If one had only a single book to read about the evolution of policy analysis, this would be a very wise pick. It will be a great boon to master of public administration and master of public policy students who want to get a quick and painless, but very strong grip on the field and its issues. Radin has done the field of policy analysis a great service." -- Public Administration Review "Bold, interesting, and clearly written." -- Journal of Policy Analysis & Management "Constitutes an important contribution to the literature in the area and, while not overly technical or academic in its presentation, provides a well-written and carefully argued essay on a topic of much interest to both theorists and practitioners in the field." -- Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis "Draws on a broad range of literature and exemplar cases to provide an insightful analysis of the field's evolution... rooted in pragmatism and experience, consciously focused on the im plications of important changes in the field for the practitioners who populate it as much as for those who study and teach it... provides a reflective tour that can both support debate about the field's intellectual direction and serve as a useful guide to those pursuing careers in it. -- American Political Science Review" -- American Political Science Review "Of particular value to students and faculty in policy programs or those in political science programs who want to learn more about the field of policy analysis." -- Journal of PoliticsMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Washington, DC
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
US School Grade: College Graduate Student and over
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 153 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
295 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-87840-773-6 (9780878407736)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Book
03/2013
2nd Edition
Georgetown University Press
€27.00
Article not available at the moment
Person
Beryl A. Radin is a member of the faculty at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute at Georgetown University. She is the author of numerous articles, book chapters, and books dealing with policy analysis, intergovernmental relations and specific policy areas. She is the lead coauthor of New Governance for Rural America: Creating Intergovernmental Partnerships, her most recent book. In 1996-98, she served as a special advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Content
Preface Introduction A Portrait of the Past Policy Analysis Today: Dueling Swords Profiles of Practice Dealing with Two Cultures: Politics and Analysis The Tools of the Trade Information -- Just Give Me the Facts? The Policy Task Where Are We and Where Are We Going?