The World of the Policy Analyst: Rationality, Values, and Politics

by Robert A. Heineman

At all levels of government and at every stage of the policy process, analytical studies have remained distant from the power centers where decisions are made. This updated and expanded text has two purposes: to contribute to a more realistic understanding of policy analysis by examining the normative assumptions that are involved in its use; and to explore the essential elements of the policy process with which analysts must work to make their efforts count.

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1990

Reviews

[Steven Peterson]

This book examines policy analysis by examining the process in terms of the metaphor of the policy analysts' world. Policy analysis is a rational process of decision making; however, it confronts a messy political reality. There are conflicting values, too, as a part of the context of the politics of policy analysis. Indeed, policy analysis itself is based on a set of values. The volume concludes by considering reforms that might make policy analysis more effective. The odds of that happening? I'm not so sure!

[Steven Peterson]

This represents an effort by a four person writing team to examine the world of the policy analyst--with special attention to the dynamic and fluid political context in which policy analysis takes place. In its time, it provided a somewhat different perspective on the subject. The fact that this went into a third edition is pretty cool! That suggests that this book had some legs.