Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL2102: Explaining Public Policies

This module descriptor refers to the 2024/5 academic year.

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Cairney, P.A. (2020) Understanding Public Policy 2nd edn Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Dunlop, C.A., Radaelli, C.M. and Trein, J.P. (2018) (eds) Learning in Public Policy: Analysis, Modes and Outcomes, Basingstoke: Palgrave.

George, A.L. and Bennett, A. (2004) Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences London: MIT Press.

Jenkins-Smith, H.C. (1990) Democratic Politics and Policy Analysis Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Jones, B.D. and Baumgartner, F.R. (2005) The Politics of Attention, Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.

Jones, M.D., McBeth, M.K. and Shanahan, E.A. (2014) (eds) The Science of Stories: Applications of the Narrative Policy Framework in Public Policy Analysis Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Kingdon, J.D. (1984) Agendas, Alternatives and Public Policies, Boston, MA: Little & Brown.

Lindblom, C.E. (1965) The Intelligence of Democracy New York, NY: The Free Press.

Parsons, W. (1995) Public Policy: An Introduction to the Theory and Practice of Policy Analysis, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

Pierson, P. (2004) Politics in Time Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Schattschneider, E.E. (1960) The Semi-Sovereign People New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston

Schneider, A. L. and Ingram, H.M. (1997) Policy Design for Democracy Lawrence, KA: University Press of Kansas

Weible, C.M. and Cairney, P.C. (2021) Practical Insights from Policy Theories Bristol: Policy Press.

Weible, C.M. and Sabatier, P.A. (eds) (2023) Theories of the Policy Process, 5th edn Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

Weible, C.M. and Workman, S. (eds) (2022) Methods of the Policy Process, 1st edn London: Routledge.

Yanow, D. (1996) How Does a Policy Mean? Georgetown University Press.

Zahariadis, N. (2016) Handbook of Public Policy Agenda Setting, 1st edn Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.


Journals: Comparative Politics ; Environmental Politics ; Environmental Values ; European Journal of Public Policy ;Governance ; Health, Risk and Society ; Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management ; Journal of European Public Policy ;Journal of Policy Analysis and Management ; Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory (J-PART) ; Journal of Public Policy ; Policy & Politics ; Policy Sciences ; Policy Studies; Policy Studies Journal ; Public Administration ; Public Administration Review ; Public Policy and Administration ; Review of Policy Research ; Risk Analysis ; Risk and Regulation ;Risk, Decision and Policy ; Science and Public Policy