Public Policy Praxis

A Case Approach for Understanding Policy and Analysis
5. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-032-95671-8
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 356 Seiten, Format (B × H): 178 mm x 254 mm

Public administration and policy analysis education have long emphasized tidiness, stages, and rationality, but practitioners increasingly work in a world where objectivity is buffeted by, repressed by, and sometimes defeated by value conflict. Over five beautifully-written and accessible editions, Public Policy Praxis has demonstrated that politics and policy are "messy" and power explains much more about the policy process than does rationality. Using a case-based approach, authors Randy S. Clemons and Mark K. McBeth blend theory and practice to uniquely equip students to better grapple with ambiguity and complexity.

Public Policy Praxis introduces students to the “how” of policy analysis alongside its limitations, practical political problems, and the ethical problems associated with different techniques and methodologies.  By offering six different analytical models of policy analysis—rational, quantitative, political, pragmatic, postpositivist, and democratic—the reader explores multiple perspectives to tackle complex policy issues. Unlike many US-centric public policy books on the market, Public Policy Praxis is designed to work in international policy settings. New features include expanded coverage of narrative analysis, earlier introduction of mixed methods, updated cases on pressing issues like opioid abuse, school safety, and renewable energy, and enhanced discussions of political polarization and evidence-based policymaking. A fully-updated online Teaching Appendix is included for adopters, offering original cases, answers to problems, alternative approaches to case use, teaching exercises, student assignments, pedagogical ideas, and supplemental material directly tied to concepts covered in the text.

With a conversational writing style, Public Policy Praxis, 5th Edition is an ideal textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in public policy analysis, community planning, leadership, social welfare policy, educational policy, family policy, and special seminars.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

McBeth, Mark K.

Clemons, Randy S.

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Regierungspolitik
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Systeme Verwaltungswissenschaft, Öffentliche Verwaltung

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Part I Overview Chapter 1. Public Policy, Power, the People, Pluralism, and You Part II Theory & Practice: Rationality, Nonrationality, Politics, and the Policy Process Chapter 2. The Rational Public Policy Method Chapter 3. The Standard Analyst’s Toolbox Chapter 4. Critiques of the Rational Approach Chapter 5. The Nonrational (Political) Approach Part III Practice and Theory: Problem Definition, Pragmatism, Policy Analysis, Methodologies and Democracy Chapter 6. A Pragmatic Public Policy Analysis Method Chapter 7. Problem Definition, Mixed Methodologies, and Praxis Chapter 8. Doing Democracy: A New (Six) Step Model Part IV: Conclusion –  Praxis/Practice Chapter 9. Wrapping Up and Letting You Show Off

Über Autor(innen)

Randy S. Clemons is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Mercyhurst University, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA.

Mark K. McBeth is Professor in the Department of Political Science at Idaho State University, USA.