Review of [The Study of Policy Formation], edited by Raymond A. Bauer and Kenneth J. Gergen.

Yehezkel Dror

Expert InsightsPublished 1969

A review article of nine papers on the study of policymaking collected and published in [The Study of Policy Formation] (The Free Press, New York, 1968). The book surveys available knowledge, presents normative models, explores research methods, poses missions for the future, and provides concrete policy cases. Strengths lie in the presentation of what is known now about the policy sciences. Weaknesses are faults of the contemporary study of policymaking, such as the tendency toward micro research and reductionism, and ambivalence on the relations between behavioral and normative approaches to the study of policymaking. Summed up: a landmark book in its class but flawed. 8 pp.

Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web Only
  • Year: 1969
  • Pages: 8
  • Document Number: P-4204

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Dror, Yehezkel, Review of [The Study of Policy Formation], edited by Raymond A. Bauer and Kenneth J. Gergen. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1969. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P4204.html.
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