Analysing PolicyThis book offers 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. |
Contents
Chapter 1 Introducing a whats the problem represented to be? approach to policy analysis | 1 |
Theory and politics | 25 |
Chapter 3 Welfare youth and unemployment | 54 |
Drugsalcohol and gambling policy | 78 |
Chapter 5 Crime and justice | 100 |
Chapter 6 Health wellbeing and the social determinants of health | 127 |
Securing a place in the world | 154 |
Common terms and phrases
Aboriginal accessed Activity affirmative action Anti-Social Behaviour Orders approach to policy ASBOs assumptions Australian Government Bacchi behaviours binge drinking biopolitics challenge Chapter Citizenship Commonwealth concept considered constituted contestation crime cultural determinants of health discourse discrimination dividing practices dominant drug economic emphasis added equality evidence-based policy example focus Foucault gambling genealogy governmental groups health inequities health policy HECS hence identified problem representations individual intervention issue kind knowledge lifelong learning means MEKN modes of governance National Native Title neoliberal Northern Territory paradigm Parliament of Australia policy analysis political subjects population poststructural poststructuralist practical texts presuppositions problem gamblers problem representations problem represented problematisations produce proposals public policy questions reflect represent the problem responsible role Routledge social determinants society South Australia special measures specific strategies targeted term theory underpin understanding University Press welfare WFTD what's the problem women WPR approach Youth