Thomas R. Dye

"Thomas Dye explodes the myth that public policy represents the "demands of the people." By focusing on the activities of foundations, think tanks, political campaign contributors, special-interest groups, lobbyists, law firms, and the media, Dye makes a compelling argument that public policy in America reflects the values, interests, and preferences of the governing elite. In so doing, Dye successfully turns the rhetoric of the "democratic process" on its head and provides a thoughtful and critical analysis of government "of, by, and for the people.""--Jacket.

This is not a book Elazar D. J., American federalism: The Wiew From The State. This is a mistake. I hope it will be corrected.

xv, 624 pages : 24 cm

Cutting-edge in approach, this book gives readers concrete tools for not only understanding public policy in general, but for analyzing specific public policies. It focuses on what policies governments pursue, why governments pursue the policies they do, and what the consequences of these policies are. Very contemporary in perspective, it introduces eight analytical models currently used by political scientists to describe and explain political life and then, using these various analytical models--singly and in combination--explores specific public policies in a variety of key domestic policy areas. Explores eight analytic models--rationalism, incrementalism, elitism, interest group conflict, institutionalism, game theory, public choice, and the familiar policy process model. Uses the various analytic models to describe and explain public policy in such areas as criminal justice, health and welfare, education, economic policy, taxation, international trade and immigration, environmental protection, civil rights, federalism, and national defense. For anyone interested in the complex dynamics of the public policy making process in relation to a broad range of contemporary issues.