The Emergence of Public Policy as an Academic Discipline in Cross-Country Perspectives

Abstract

The aim of the panel is to analyze the emergence of public policy as an academic discipline in selected countries beyond the Anglo-American context, its role for policy advocacy, design and implementation, and its potential contribution to the development of political institutions created to address the growing societal and economic problems facing modern societies. As an academic discipline, public policy has been established in the United States and the United Kingdom for many years, and when discussing public policy theory and issues, we often draw on both countries’ academic literature and expertise. Nonetheless, we observe the emergence of public policy as an academic discipline across many countries worldwide though hardly anything is known about the experts and knowledge in the field and the various facets of public policy theory and practice from specific country perspectives. Cognizant of the deeply interdisciplinary nature of public policy, the panel considers aspects of history, governance, economics and law as components of public policy theory development and investigates how these theories have influenced policymaking in Canada, Ghana, Colombia and South Africa. Each paper draws on the advancement of public policy research in distinct country contexts influencing, for instance, public health and agricultural policymaking. Our research and findings are based on the review and assessment of academic literature, development plans, jurisdiction and think tanks promoting public policy research and practice. Keywords: History, Policymaking, Academia

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The Emergence of Public Policy in Colombia and its Impact on Agriculture	View Paper Details