Public Policy in the United States: At the Dawn of the Twenty-first Century

by Unknown

• ISBN13: 9780765606471
• ISBN10: 076560647X
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2001-12-31
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This wonderful text accomplishes three important goals. First, it introduces readers to the American approach to public policy making as it has been shaped by our political institutions, changing circumstances, and ideology. Second, it informs readers about the basic elements of U.S. public policy in all the major policy realms -- and does so concisely, reliably, and even-handedly. Finally, it inspires readers with an appreciation of the widely shared but often competing values that must be balanced and rebalanced in the ongoing policy-making process. Each of the core chapters of the book includes a case study of a major policy choice -- such as welfare reform, drug enforcement, affirmative action, missile defense -- that illustrates the policy-making process in action. Also included in each chapter are lists of key concepts and questions for discussion. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Mark E. Rushefsky is professor of political science at Southwest Missouri State University

Table of Contents

List of Tables

List of Figures

Preface

Acknowledgments

Process, Structure, and Ideology

The Policy Process

Characteristics of the American Political System

Is Government a Failure?

Ideology: From Value Positions to Issue Positions

Key Concepts

Reflections

Notes

Economic Policy: To Promote the General Welfare

Problem Identification

How Have We Done?

Agenda Building and Economic Policy

Policy Issues

Economic Inequality

Globalization and International Trade

Problems with Globalization

Case Study: Social Security in Crisis?

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Reflections

Notes

Foreign Policy: To Provide for the Common Defense

Problem Identification

Formulation, Adoption, and Implementation: Changing Direction

Case Study: The Global War on Terrorism

The Middle East

Asia

Africa

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Reflections

Notes

Poverty and Welfare: The Poor Ye Always Have with You?

Problem Identification

Who Are the Poor?

Formulation, Adoption, and Implementation: Antipoverty Strategies

Case Study: The End of Welfare as We Know It

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Reflections

Notes

Health Policy: The Problems of Cost and Access

Problem Identification

Medical Care in the United States

The Federal Role in Medical Care

Medicare

Medicaid

Formulation, Adoption, and Implementation: Cost Control

Policy Succession

Problem Identification

Case Study: Consumer-Driven Health Care

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Reflections

Notes

Environmental Policy: Challenges and Opportunities

Problem Identification

Adoption and Implementation

Policy Succession: Environmental Policy from Reagan to Bush II

Environmental Issues

Case Study no. l: Global Climate Warming

Case Study no. 2: The Elusive Search for Energy Independence

Challenges

Conclusion: Opportunities

Key Concepts

Reflections

Notes

Criminal Justice: To Ensure Domestic Tranquility

Problem Identification

Evaluating Criminal Justice Policy: Why Did the Crime Rate Drop?

Criminal Justice Issues

Case Study: The War over the War on Drugs

Conclusion: Solutions to the Crime Problem?

Key Concepts

Reflections

Notes

Education: The Promise of America

Problem Identification

How Have We Done?

Agenda Building and Policy Adoption

Equality and Education Policy

The Federal Government and Educational Reform

The Question of Choice

Case Study: No Child Left Behind

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Reflections

Notes

Equality: The Second American Revolution

Problem Identification: Equality Defined

Political Equality

Equality of Opportunity

Equality of Outcome

A Statistical Portrait of America: Now and in the Future

The Civil Rights Movement

Narrowing the Gap

Race Relations as a Wedge Issue

Attitudes About Race

Case Study: Affirmative Action

Gay Rights or Gay Wrongs

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Reflections

Notes

At the Dawn of the Twenty-First Century

Themes

Public Opinion

Divided Government

Challenges and Opportunities

Some Concluding Thoughts

Reflections

References

Index

About the Author

References

Index

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