Policy Reconsidered: Meanings, Politics and Practices by Susan M. Hodgson (Engli

Policy Reconsidered: Meanings, Politics and Practices

by Susan M. Hodgson

This book identifies key topics in the policy arena, subjecting them to sustained theoretical and practical appraisal. It shows the advantage of applying a cross-disciplinary lens to the study of 'policy', presenting critical and reflective engagements with theory and practice at all levels of political organisation within a range of contexts.

FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New

Publisher Description

The idea of policy is ripe for critical reappraisal. Whilst the context for policy making changes constantly, multiple questions endure, such as how policy is conceived and why; what is taken for granted and what gets problematised; and how policy should be informed, analysed and understood.
This book identifies key topics within the policy arena and subjects them to theoretical and practical analysis. It explores the meaning and framing of policy, and examines its practice from the micro- to the supra-national levels, using illustrative case studies to demonstrate how policy is contested, shaped and accounted for. Given the significance of policy as a means to organise and direct social, economic and political life, this book presents the case for a critical restatement of its origins, development and form - without which we risk being caught up in a cycle of change without understanding why or how.
The book presents a productive encounter between the three themes of meanings, politics and practices, themes normally not brought together in a single text. It emphasizes the multiplicity of perspectives that can be directed towards understanding the policy world, opening up new ground as well as visiting anew some familiar terrain. Targeted at upper undergraduate and postgraduate students and their teachers, it will also be of interest to researchers and policy actors wanting insight to their project.

Author Biography

Susan M. Hodgson is Director of Research Training for Social Sciences at the University of Sheffield. Her research specialism is in sociology of science.Zoe Irving is Lecturer in Comparative Social Policy at the Universityof Sheffield, and has published in the areas of gender and employmentand the teaching of social policy.

Table of Contents

Policy and its exploration ~ Susan M. Hodgson and Zoe Irving; Part One: Meanings: Introduction; The meaning of policy/policy as meaning ~ Richard Jenkins; Policy and the 'good society' ~ David Phillips; Categorising and policy making ~ Joanne Britton;
Part Two: Politics: Introduction; Language, politics and values ~ Marilyn Gregory; Business, power, policy and politics ~ Kevin Farnsworth; (Social) Policy and politics at the international level ~ Bob Deacon;
Part Three: Practices: Introduction; Ethics, research and policy ~ Malcolm Cowburn; User involvement ~ Kathy Boxall, Lorna Warren and Ruby C.M. Chau; Policies as translation: situating transnational social policies ~ Noemi Lendvai and Paul Stubbs; Studying policy: a way forward ~ Susan M. Hodgson and Zoe Irving.

Review

"Books about policy-making that grapple with the relations between theory, language and application are rare. By bringing in sociology, anthropology and social work this one provides a welcome refreshment of the social and public policy literature and a stimulus to all whose use it." Richard Parry, School of Social and Political Studies, University of Edinburgh

Long Description

The idea of policy is ripe for critical reappraisal. Whilst the context for policy making changes constantly, multiple questions endure, such as how policy is conceived and why; what is taken for granted and what gets problematised; and how policy should be informed, analysed and understood. This book identifies key topics within the policy arena and subjects them to theoretical and practical analysis. It explores the meaning and framing of policy, and examines its practice from the micro- to the supra-national levels, using illustrative case studies to demonstrate how policy is contested, shaped and accounted for. Given the significance of policy as a means to organise and direct social, economic and political life, this book presents the case for a critical restatement of its origins, development and form - without which we risk being caught up in a cycle of change without understanding why or how. The book presents a productive encounter between the three themes of meanings, politics and practices, themes normally not brought together in a single text. It emphasizes the multiplicity of perspectives that can be directed towards understanding the policy world, opening up new ground as well as visiting anew some familiar terrain. Targeted at upper undergraduate and postgraduate students and their teachers, it will also be of interest to researchers and policy actors wanting insight to their project.

Review Quote

.....this book provides a unique perspective on understanding the policy process by exploring the division of meanings, politics and practices. The collection is extensive and thorough and covers a wide variety of policy areas at both the national and international levels. Xiongwei Song in Political Studies Review

Details ISBN1861349130 Short Title POLICY RECONSIDERED Publisher Policy Press Language English ISBN-10 1861349130 ISBN-13 9781861349132 Media Book Format Hardcover DEWEY 320.6 Illustrations Yes Year 2007 Publication Date 2007-11-30 Imprint Policy Press Place of Publication Bristol Country of Publication United Kingdom Author Susan M. Hodgson Pages 256 Subtitle Meanings, politics and practices Edited by Zoe Irving DOI 10.1604/9781861349132 UK Release Date 2007-11-21 AU Release Date 2007-11-20

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TheNile_Item_ID:145272360;

• Condition: Brand new
• ISBN-13: 9781861349132
• Book Title: Policy Reconsidered: Meanings, Politics and Practices
• ISBN: 9781861349132
• Publication Year: 2007
• Type: Textbook
• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Publication Name: Policy Reconsidered: Meanings, Politics and Practices
• Item Height: 234mm
• Author: Susan M. Hodgson, Zoe Irving
• Publisher: Policy Press
• Item Width: 156mm
• Subject: Government
• Number of Pages: 256 Pages

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