Booktalking "Beyond Machiavelli: Policy Analysis Comes of Age" by Beryl Radin

policy

Advocates, elected officials, legal counsel and policy analysts. The private sector, both nonprofit and for-profit companies, as well as governmental entities. All must work in concert to achieve positive change for society on real-life issues such as the ethical treatment of animals, the type of energy that is used to fuel power plants, and screening pre-K kids for possible giftedness. No one professional works in a vacuum.

The field of policy analysis was born in the 1970s, though the tradition of advising rulers has been around pretty much since the beginning of civilization, as the title suggests. (Machiavelli was an Italian diplomat in the 16th Century.) However, It has evolved through the decades. In the beginning, policy analysis was seen more as protecting the prevailing administration. Now, analysts must work with a variety of stakeholders and dispense information that either supports pending legislation or points to challenges in implementation or suggests taking an entirely new direction in order to resolve an issue.

Policy analysts use news and academic articles to understand societal issues that affect proposed legislation. Then, they prepare oral and/or written reports that may include recommendations for elected officials. Lawmakers would not be able to complete their jobs without policy and financial analysts, legal counsel and administrative and support staff. Listening to input from the administration and advocates is also invaluable.

Beyond Machiavelli: Policy Analysis Comes of Age by Beryl Radin, 2000

I appreciated the nuts-and-bolts look at the policy analysis profession, though the book is 16 years old. This is the best book that I have read about the subject. Incidentally, there has been a revision: Beyond Machiavelli: Policy Analysis Reaches Midlife.