Policy Making in Britain

Policy-making in Britain is a broadly based introductory text on the policy legacy of the Thatcher era and the new developments in policy-making in the 1990s. Examining the policy process within its ideological, political and economic context, the authors show how it is affected by domestic and international considerations, including the influences of both local government and Europe. The book is divided into two sections, the first establishing a broad critical framework for analysis and the second focusing on case studies of particular policy areas. These include public expenditure, the NHS, Next Steps, water privatisation, pensions, training and education, and immigration. Policy-making in Britain gives a clear sense of the dynamics operating in policy-making. The inclusion of both practice and theory in this text encourages students to think about the likely outcomes of policy change. It also makes plain the connections between British public policy and the environment and conditions under which it is shaped.