Policy and Politics in Six Nations A Comparative Perspective on Policy Making

by Theodoulou, Stella Z.

• ISBN13: 9780130866035
• ISBN10: 0130866032
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-06-15
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Filling a void in the study of policy and politics, this volume blends an introductory perspective to policy making with a traditional treatment of comparative government and politics. The text traces policy evolution and development in individual nations and then discusses similarities, differences and discernable patterns. The straightforward presentation is designed to provide readers with a greater understanding of cross-national policy learning while integrating the study of public policy with mainstream comparative politics.Studying public policy from a comparative perspective, this volume examines the nature of public policy within Brazil, the Federal Republic of Germany, Britain, Japan, Sweden and the U.S.For those interested in understanding the political and governmental setting that produces policy.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
List of Boxes, Tables, and Figures	ix
PART I Studying Public Policy from a Comparative Perspective	1	(14)
The Value and Art of Comperative Public Policy	3	(7)
What Is Comparative Public Policy?	3	(1)
The Benefits of Comparison	4	(1)
The Art of Comparison	5	(1)
What Method?	5	(1)
The Approaches	6	(4)
What Nations and What Policies to Study?	10	(5)
Which Nations to Study?	10	(3)
The Plan of the Text	13	(1)
Suggested Further Readings	13	(2)
PART II The Nations	15	(84)
Brazil	18	(11)
The Political Setting	18	(4)
The Governmental Setting	22	(5)
The Policy-Making Process	27	(2)
Federal Republic of Germany	29	(15)
The Political Setting	29	(6)
The Governmental Setting	35	(6)
The Policy-Making Process	41	(3)
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland	44	(15)
The Political Setting	44	(5)
The Governmental Setting	49	(8)
The Policy-Making Process	57	(2)
Japan	59	(13)
The Political Setting	59	(4)
The Governmental Setting	63	(6)
The Policy-Making Process	69	(3)
Sweden	72	(10)
The Political Setting	73	(3)
The Governmental Setting	76	(4)
The Policy-Making Process	80	(2)
The United States of America	82	(17)
The Political Setting	82	(5)
The Governmental Setting	87	(9)
The Policy-Making Process	96	(1)
Suggested Further Readings	97	(2)
PART III Policy Sectors	99	(142)
Social Welfare Policy: A Safety Net or a Crutch?	101	(33)
Brazil: Imitation of the Real Thing	104	(4)
Germany: Status Maintenance with Minor Cutbacks	108	(5)
Great Britain: Rolling Back the State	113	(7)
Japan: Welfare Laggard or Responsible Compassionate Government?	120	(3)
Sweden: Still a Social Democratic Model?	123	(5)
United States: Uncaring or Prudent Social Services Provider?	128	(6)
Health Care: A Right or a Privilege?	134	(40)
Brazil: Unequal and Exclusive Care	136	(7)
Germany: Stubbornly Maintaining Established Principles	143	(6)
Great Britain: To Dismantle or Not?	149	(7)
Japan: Healthy Satisfaction	156	(4)
Sweden: Still Committed but for How Long?	160	(6)
United States: Big Spending, Low Return	166	(8)
Education Policy: Private or Public?	174	(33)
Brazil: Still Exclusive and Not Inclusive	175	(4)
Germany: A Crisis Waiting to Happen	179	(5)
Great Britain: The Withering Away of Public Education	184	(7)
Japan: Only the Best	191	(5)
Sweden: Equal Access Guaranteed	196	(4)
United States: A State of Flux	200	(7)
Environmental Policy: To Regulate or Not?	207	(34)
Brazil: Affordable Environmental Consciousness	208	(6)
Germany: How Much and for What Cost?	214	(4)
Great Britain: To ``Green'' or Not?	218	(6)
Japan: Friendly Protection	224	(4)
Sweden: Societal Protection	228	(5)
United States: How Much Government Intervention?	233	(5)
Suggested Further Readings	238	(3)
PART IV Putting the Pieces Together: Similarities and Differences Across Nations	241	(14)
Are Nations Similar or Not?	243	(10)
Social Welfare Policy and the Six Nations	244	(3)
Health Policy and the Six Nations	247	(2)
Education Policy and the Six Nations	249	(1)
Environmental Policy and the Six Nations	250	(3)
Discernable Patterns	253	(2)
Endnotes	255	(20)
Index	275

Excerpts

The study of comparative public policy is relatively new, but in the era of the global economy and the interdependence and connectedness of nations, it is valuable to study policy from a comparative perspective. The problems and issues that face one industrialized nation will eventually materialize in some form or shape in other nations. Thus questions such as why one nation finds it easier than another to pursue a consistent environmental policy or to provide health care through private provision rather than collective are important for students to ponder. The benefit of studying policy comparatively is that it affords students the opportunity of understanding policy issues and concerns through the use of generalizations. The purpose of this text is to provide students with the opportunity for cross-national policy learning. For example, they can learn from the British and Japanese experiences with national health care provision when debating the future direction of health care provision in the United States. Beyond this practical objective of the cross-national teaming experience,Policy and Politics in Six Nationsalso seeks to integrate public policy with mainstream comparative politics. Such a perspective attempts to provide the reader with an insight into policy making, which is grounded in a solid appreciation of how nation-state political processes are related and connected to the public policy process.Policy and Politics in Six Nationsemerges from courses that I have developed and taught over the years and from my many discussions with colleagues and students about the problems of understanding public policy in different national settings. Based upon my experience, I strongly believe there is a need for a text that blends an introductory perspective to public policy with a traditional treatment of comparative government and politics.Finally, I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to the following individuals. To my research assistant, David Goodman, thank you for your extensive work on health and welfare policy. To my editors, thank you for your determination to see this in print. To my office staff, in particular, Cynthia Harris for your tenacity in typing this manuscript, thank you. Elizabeth, thanks for the use of the guest house so I could shut myself away from the world. To Amy and Ed, I can only do what I do because of your support. And finally, but not least, to Marti, thanks for allowing me to be me and you to be you. Stella Z. Theodoulou Los Angeles