Relationality: The Inner Life of Public Policy

Relational policy analysis can provide deeper insights into policy careers and dynamics, but it requires addressing challenges such as the unseen nature of the relational and the potentially unbounded scope of analysis.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 22 December 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The Element argues that relational policy analysis can provide deeper insights into the career of any policy and the dynamics of any policy situation. This task is all the more difficult as the relational often operates unseen in the backstages of a policy arena. Another issue is the potentially unbounded scope of a relational analysis. But these challenges should not dissuade policy scholars from beginning to address the theme of relationality in public policy. This Element sketches a conceptual framework for the study of relationality and illustrates some of the promise of relational analysis using an extended case study.

This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Relational policy analysis is a powerful tool for understanding the career of policies and the dynamics of policy situations. It can provide insights that traditional policy analysis may miss, as the relational often operates unseen in the backstages of policy arenas. However, there are challenges associated with relational analysis, such as its potentially unbounded scope.

Despite these challenges, policy scholars should not be dissuaded from addressing the theme of relationality in public policy. This Element provides a conceptual framework for the study of relationality and illustrates some of the promise of relational analysis using an extended case study. The study of relationality can help policy scholars better understand the complex relationships between different actors, institutions, and policies, and how these relationships shape policy outcomes.

By incorporating a relational perspective into policy analysis, policy scholars can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the complex and interconnected world in which policies operate. This can help policymakers develop more effective and responsive policies that address the needs of diverse stakeholders and promote social justice and equity.

In conclusion, relational policy analysis is a valuable tool for understanding the career of policies and the dynamics of policy situations. While there are challenges associated with this approach, policy scholars should not be dissuaded from addressing the theme of relationality in public policy. By incorporating a relational perspective into policy analysis, policymakers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the complex and interconnected world in which policies operate and develop more effective and responsive policies that promote social justice and equity.

ISBN-13: 9781009113199