Policy & Politics
Advancing knowledge in social and public policy
Editors: Tony Fitzpatrick, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham, and Geetanjali Gangoli, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol
Volume 39, 2011, 4 issues: January, April, July and October
ISSN 0305 5736 Online ISSN: 1470-8442
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Single issue rates are available for Policy & Politics. Please email tpp-sales@bristol.ac.uk for details. The complete list of issues available can be viewed here.
Single issue rates are available for Policy & Politics. Please email tpp-sales@bristol.ac.uk for details. The complete list of issues available can be viewed here.
“Policy & Politics has become a leading journal tackling policy issues concerning East Asia as well as other parts of the world. It now provides an indispensable academic forum for Asian policy practitioners and academics.” Professor Huck-ju Kwon, Seoul National University, Korea
"Broad in scope and empirically grounded, Policy & Politics delves into the most pressing issues of the day. This widely-cited journal offers original analyses and lively debate by prominent academics in the field - mandatory reading for social and public policy scholars."
Neil Gilbert, Chernin Professor of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley
"The breadth of its coverage, in terms of issues and jurisdictions, and the quality and relevance of its contributions makes Policy & Politics essential reading for all scholars with an interest in policy debate, development, implementation and impact."
Professor Peter Saunders, Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Australia
About this journal
Policy & Politics is the leading journal in the field of public policy with an enviable reputation for publishing peer-reviewed papers of the highest quality. It explores the fit between theory and empirical applications and links macro-scale political economy debates with micro-scale policy studies.
Policy & Politics 2012 conference.
Editorial statement
As we approach our 40th anniversary Policy & Politics is rethinking and renewing its mission, strategies and procedures. Across four decades it has been one of the leading international journals in the field of public and social policy. We intend to maintain that reputation while also reflecting on the new contexts that the social and political sciences face. These include the challenges of globalisation, economic restructuring, environmental crisis, social, ethical and cultural diversification and accelerating technological changes. There are also many new disciplinary and interdisciplinary developments in the fields of social research and social theory to which we have to respond. The field of social and public policy is one of the key arenas for political debate and social conflict in the 21st century. Policy & Politics intends to occupy a global stage within that arena.
We welcome contributions from established authors, as well as early-career authors, from both the UK and around the world. Policy & Politics aims to appeal to academics, policy makers and practitioners.
In recent years, the most cited articles have dealt with the following subjects:
- • the relationship between states and individuals, and the nature of active citizenship and public participation;
- • the operation of partnerships, agencies, networks and communities;
- • policy developments (including examples of best and worst practices) in the form of implementation processes, regulatory frameworks and mechanisms of accountability and legitimacy;
- • multi-level governance (including the implications of devolution, federalism and the European Union);
- • innovative forms of social regeneration (including democratisation, modernisation and neighbourhood renewal);
- • the politics of social and public policies (including political parties, social movements and interest groups).
Additionally, there are many emerging debates that we are interested in publishing, including (but not limited to):
- • climate change and global warming in relation to social and public policy;
- • the global financial crisis;
- • implications of migrations for policy;
- • new challenges to social solidarity;
- • policy implications of new technology.
Our core focus will therefore continue to be in the field of public and social policy. Around that core we wish authors to make connections with crucial social, political, economic and cultural developments. This may include making new, innovative cross-disciplinary associations and connections.
Additionally, those articles most likely to be accepted for publication are ones which:
Additionally, those articles most likely to be accepted for publication are ones which:
- • anticipate and analytically frame those topical and important trends which are likely to shape governance and policy over the next decade or more at an international, national and local level;
- • investigate and compare public sector institutions, services, cultures and goods, including in relation to other sectors (markets, civil society and so on);
- • offer a comparative analysis which is historical and/or geographical and designed to draw lessons, eg about policy transfer and cross-national influences, for an international audience;
- • achieve a high degree of theoretical sophistication and innovation, especially in relation to empirical data, methods and methodologies;
- • provide an analysis of the social, economic and political impacts (including public attitudes and effects on service users) of key social and public policies;
- • helpfully summarise and reflect on a comprehensive body of literature and knowledge in the form of review articles;
- • propose arguments which are potentially controversial while still achieving a high level of rigor and professionalism in scope, research and presentation;
- • extend or critique previously published material, articles and debates in Policy & Politics.
We hope you will join us as we begin to plan for the next 40 years and beyond.
Tony Fitzpatrick, University of Nottingham
Geetanjali Gangoli, University of Bristol
Sarah Ayres, University of Bristol
ISI Social Science Citation Index
Policy & Politics was awarded an impact factor of 0.623 in the 2009 ISI Social Science Citation Index.
Abstracting and indexing
Policy & Politics is abstracted in ASSIA (Applied Social Science Index and Abstracts), British Humanities Index, EBSCO Publishing Library Services, GEOBASE (Online and CD-Rom), Geographical Abstracts: Human Geography, International Development Abstracts, ISI Journal Citation Reports, Social Science Edition, Political Science and Public Administration categories, PAIS (Public Affairs Information Service), Studies on Women Abstracts, Australian Family & Society Abstracts.
Policy & Politics 2012 Conference:
40 years of Policy & Politics: Critical reflections and strategies for the future’
18 -19 September 2012, Bristol, UK
Policy & Politics celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2012. For forty years the journal has published key works in the areas of public and social policy. The nature of politics and policy making has undoubtedly witnessed significant transformations.
Recent changes include the increasing importance of global governance, a reframing of the state in delivering public services, rising public expectations about choice and quality of public services, the global economic downturn and associated austerity measures, the challenges of climate change and the transition from government to governance, epitomised by the inclusion of non-state actors in the policy process.
The 2012 Policy & Politics conference seeks to explore contemporary policy issues within the context of the past 40 years. Plenary speakers are:
Professor Michael Hill, University of Newcastle, UK
Should we still try to Speak Truth to Power? Dilemmas for Contemporary Policy Process Analysis.
Professor Julian Le Grand, London School of Economics, UK
Government paternalism: nanny state or helpful friend?
Professor Michael Hill, University of Newcastle, UK
Should we still try to Speak Truth to Power? Dilemmas for Contemporary Policy Process Analysis.
Professor Julian Le Grand, London School of Economics, UK
Government paternalism: nanny state or helpful friend?
Professor Christopher Pollitt, Katholieke Univesiteit, Belguim
40 Years of public management reform: What have we learned, what have we forgotten?
Professor Rod Rhodes, Griffith University, Australia
Political anthropology and public policy: prospects and limits.
You can find further information about the conference including how to register here.
Call for papers
Policy & Politics has recently launched its Thematic Review section which publishes articles that directly engage with the themes of the journal: governance and democracy; comparative and international policy; accountability and regulation; policy making and implementation; state and civil society; theorising the policy process; human rights and anti-discrimination; evaluation; and globalisation and internationalisation.
Each thematic review article is intended to summarise a chosen body of literature and to offer new perspectives or seek to advance understanding of an issue or debate. It offers the opportunity to launch high-profile critiques, to showcase acute but comprehensive contributions and to initiate challenging dialogues.
The journal welcomes abstracts of potential articles, to submit an abstract or if you would like to discuss your ideas informally, please contact editors Tony Fitzpatrick: tony.fitzpatrick@nottingham.ac.uk or Geetanjali Gangoli: G.Gangoli@bristol.ac.uk. Contributors in North America should contact Guy Peters, North American Corresponding Editor: BGPETERS@pitt.edu.
ALPSP Learned Journals Collection (ALJC)
Policy & Politics is available to consortia and other library customers via the ALPSP Learned Journals Collection. For more information, please visit www.alpsp-collection.org