Policy Making in Britain
An Introduction
- Peter Dorey - University of Cardiff, UK
- 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
The result is a contemporary and engaging text that will be required reading for all students of British politics, public policy and public administration.
This is an important analysis of the systems of British politics and the pressures it faces. This book sets a clear course for the reader, and presents a range of political debates in a logical, concise, and highly readable manner.
Most of the key texts in this complex area of the discipline, including Dorey's first edition, are now well out of date. So the arrival of this carefully updated, eminently concise yet highly readable second edition from Peter Dorey is greatly to be welcomed.
Combining a judicious discussion of theoretical perspectives with a masterly analysis of empirical evidence, Policy Making in Britain has been a key resource for serious students of UK politics since its first appearance in 2006. The new edition covers subsequent developments, updates the guidance on further reading and provides very useful questions for group discussion. Professor Dorey deserves gratitude from those who teach the subject, as well as undergraduates and postgraduates - not least for presenting invaluable information in such an accessible style.
This new and substantially revised edition of Policy Making in Britain provides an excellent introduction to the key ideas, individuals, institutions and vested interests that seek to define and control the political and policy agenda in Britain today. For students, particularly those with no previous knowledge of the subject, there is, quite simply, no better place to start
Peter Dorey has, once again, produced a fine piece of work which takes the readers through both the theory and practice of public policy making in the UK. From the clearly introduced chapters, to the questions for reflection and additional reading for scholars and students, Dorey has provided the discipline with the essential 'core' introductory text book in public policy that should be on every course reading list.
A useful book for students new to policy. Well written and easy to read. Well recommended.
Informative and easy to read. Supports students with sociology and social policy units.
Answers a lot of questions regarding how policies inform laws, and how ideas are used to develop policy.
brilliant reading for students to start off the social policy unit.
Contemporary material provided in an accessible format.
Not specific enough in relation to educational policy, to be acore reader, but providees keen insights into the wider political and policy making picture to provide a sound base.
Limited sources available for students to cope with
- 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.
