Generalised and Particularistic Thinking in Policy Analysis and Practice: The Case of Governance Reform in South Africa

Summary, in English

This article is concerned with the relationship between generalised and particularistic knowledge in the context of policy-making and policy analysis. It argues that it is problematic to assume that a reform model will generate similar outcomes across a wide variety of contexts. It presents a conceptual framework, including the concepts of transaction domain and domain consensus, that enables context-sensitive analyses. The argument is exemplified by South Africa's introduction in the 1990s of an Integrated Development Planning model, based on British reform experience and various international public-management models. With a case study of such planning in Lukhanji Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, it illustrates how the conceptual framework may be used in policy research and analysis.

• Författare: Olle Frödin
• Avdelning/ar: Sociologi
• Publiceringsår: 2009
• Språk: Engelska
• Sidor: 287-306
• Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie: Development Policy Review
• Volym: 27
• Issue: 3
• Länkar: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7679.2009.00447.x
• Dokumenttyp: Artikel i tidskrift
• Förlag: Wiley
• Ämne: Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)
• Nyckelord: local government; Africa; South; development planning; public policy; Governance; institutions; governance theory
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt: ISSN: 0950-6764