CiNii Books - Making social policy : the mechanisms of government and politics, and how to investigate them

Making Social Policy is a new and original textbook on policy making in British central government. Starting from first principles, it examines policy making through concepts drawn not from academic theories and interpretations but directly from the experiences and perceptions of the politicians, officials and others involved in the decision making process. Peter Levin sets out a range of techniques for doing this, and applies them to five case studies of policy making by the Thatcher and Major governments. He elegantly brings out the various mechanisms at work, including the strategies deployed by the various participants. These case studies, which bring together material from a variety of sources cover: * housing and education policy * social security reform * the poll tax * the annual public expenditure cycle * Europe: the Social Charter and the protection of women workers. Making Social Policy is also about how to study policy making. It shows you how to recognize a policy when you see one, and how to make your own analysis of the mechanisms by which government produces and adopts policy proposals, and by which legislative and other measures subsequently come about. Peter Levin also demonstrates how many theoretical perspectives employed by academic writers comprehensively fail to capture the reality of what actually takes place. Making Social Policy will be essential reading for students of social policy, politics, government, and public administration.

Table of Contents

Introduction The policy-making machinery 'Policy' and 'social policy' Approaches and methods Formulating intentions the Conservative 1987 election manifesto The dependence of the Prime Minister the 'poll tax' saga Consultation and pressure reforming social security in the mid-1980s The Treasury versus the spending departments the annual spending round European social policy and the UK the Social Charter and the protection of women workers Conclusions the mechanisms of policy making Index

Volume: : hbk ISBN 9780335190850

Description

"Making social policy" is a new and original textbook on policy making in British central government. Starting from first principles, it examines policy making through concepts crown not from academic theories and interpretations but directly from the experiences and perceptions of the politicians, officials and others involved in the decision making process. Peter Levin sets out a range of techniques for doing this, and applies them to five case studies of lopicy making by the Thatcher and Major governments. He brings out the various mechanisms at work, including the strategies deployed by the various participants. These case studies, which bring together material from a variety of sources cover: housing and education policy; social security reform; the poll tax; the annual public expenditure cycle; Europe: the Social Charter and the protection of women workers. "Making social policy" is also about how to study policy making. It shows you how to recognize a policy when you see one, and how to make your own analysis of the mechanisms by which government produces and adopts policy proposals, and by which legislative and other measures subsequently come about. Peter Levin also demonstrates how many theoretical perspectives employed by academic writers comprehensively fail to capture the reality of what actually takes place.

Table of Contents

Introduction
the policy-making machinery
'policy' and 'social policy'
approaches and methods
formulating intentions - the Conservative 1987 election manifesto
the dependence of the Prime Minister - the 'poll tax' saga
consultation and pressure - reforming social security in the mid-1980s
the Treasury versus the spending departments - the annual spending round
European social policy and the UK = the Social Charter and the protection of women workers
conclusions - the mechanisms of policy making.

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Making social policy : the mechanisms of government and politics, and how to investigate them

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