Women, Policy and Politics The Construction of Policy Problems [Hardcover]

This book offers a powerful new approach to policy studies. Drawing on recent perspectives from social constructionism, discourse analysis, the sociology of social problems and feminism, Carol Bacchi develops a step-by-step analytical tool for deconstructing policy problems. Her `What's the Problem?' approach encourages students to reflect critically upon the ways in which policy problems get constructed within policy debates and policy proposals.This book offers a powerful new approach to policy studies. Drawing on recent perspectives from social constructionism, discourse analysis, the sociology of social problems and feminism, Carol Bacchi develops a step-by-step analytical tool for deconstructing policy problems. Her `What's the Problem?' approach encourages students to reflect critically upon the ways in which policy problems get constructed within policy debates and policy proposals.`This is a profoundly thoughtful book that challenges accepted ways of approaching policy issues. It brings a refreshingly new perspective to some of the key areas that have exercised feminists for several decades' -Jeanne Gregory, Middlesex University

`Not the problem, but the process of problematizing. A simple shift of focus - but it's one of those rare and gifted conceptual reconfigurations that cut like a hot knife through butter. The result is that we come away with some immensely practical policy tools' - Cynthia Cockburn, City University London

`I certainly don't know of any other book that explains the constructionist position so clearly and effectively and the application to gender issues is an additional plus' - Myra Marx Ferree, University of Connecticut

`This book will create worthwhile debate. It offeres an immensly useful approach for students ofls€