International Series on Public Policy

This open access book is the first monograph to systematically apply the Programmatic Action Framework (PAF) in a comparative analysis of public policy in two institutionally different countries. The PAF seeks to explain long-term policy change by examining the shared biographies of policy actors who, to foster their careers, coalesce around policy programs which they promote throughout the policy process. Comparing health policy-making in France and Germany between 1990 and 2020, the book sheds light on the institutional settings that are necessary for programmatic action to occur. It will appeal to scholars and students of public policy, public administration, and health policy.

This edited book explores the link between institutional reforms, governance and services delivery in the Global South, mapping how and to what extent resource-poor governments deliver public services to their citizens. The book concludes that delivery of public services responsibly and efficiently remains largely unachievable because of weaker institutions and poor quality of governance in the Global South countries. Reforms to governance and institutions are generally considered fitting measures to overcome public service delivery challenges.

This book examines the history of the French welfare state from the mid-twentieth century to the present day. The French social security system has changed profoundly over the last few decades. The Bismarkian model of governance and social protection inherited from the Second World War has progressively faded away in favor of a reinforcement of the state’s capacity to intervene on policies and the implementation of national health insurance coverage. In order to understand this major transformation, this book draws on rich original sources to offer a historical and sociological perspective on elite policymakers and policy change. In doing so, it identifies correlations between the changing social backgrounds and career paths of elites in charge of social insurance policies since the 1940s, and the development of health policy programs. It will appeal to all those interested in public policy, health policy, social studies and French history and politics.

This book examines the impact of democratic backsliding and populist governments on the public policy process. Drawing on case studies from the USA, Brazil, Hungary, Mexico, Poland, Turkey, and the Philippines, it assesses how elected populist governments have eroded policy capabilities and dismantled state apparatuses responsible for making and implementing policy. The book offers a unique perspective into democratic backsliding through a public policy lens, and considers why, when and how policy processes change as a result of populist governments. Numerous policy issues are analysed throughout the volume, including environmental, health and economic policies. It will appeal to all those interested in public policy, democracy studies, and public administration.

This book examines the development of internet policymaking over the last forty years. Drawing on evidence from France and elsewhere, it adopts a sociohistorical perspective to offer insights into the ways democratic states regulate the internet and digital transformation more generally. Adopting a chronological approach and utilising both policy analysis and interviews with key actors, it retells the changing role of the state in internet regulation since the inception of the internet to the present day. It also explores the complex relationships between public administrations and internet organizations, and considers whether states are really capable of governing the digital space. It will appeal to all those interested in public policy, digital studies, sociology and communication studies.