Synopses & Reviews
A response to myriad crises of public policy, this important and original book contributes to a growing debate, arguing that traditional technocratic ways of designing policy are inadequate to cope with increasingly complex challenges. Drawing on twelve compelling international contributions from practitioners, policy makers, activists, and actively engaged academics, Rethinking Public Policy-Making uses ideas of power to explore how genuine democratic involvement in the policy process from outside the political elite can shape society for the better. An indispensable resource for researchers and students of public policy, public administration, sociology, and politics, this book offers profound insight into why and how to generate change in policy processes, arguing for increased experimentation in policy design.
Synopsis
Researching with communities presents a range of personal and grounded perspectives from academics, researchers and practitioners on undertaking research in ways that promote and privilege the voice of the community, is respectful of local or indigenous practices and is culturally safe. Most definitely not a 'tick list' for approaching community-inclusive research, this book provides grounded exemplars, guides and discussion about the experiences of doing research respectfully and inclusively. It does this by drawing on the perspectives of researchers and community practitioners and by providing a range of reflective chapters that explore what community-based research means in a range of settings and for a range of people. Like the communities in which they are grounded, undertaking research in this way is always a unique experience.
About the Author
Catherine Durose is a senior lecturer in the School of Government and Society at the University of Birmingham. Liz Richardson is a senior lecturer in politics at the University of Manchester. With Stephen Greasley, they are coeditors of Changing Local Governance, Changing Citizens, also published by Policy Press.