From Theory to Practice of Deliberative Policy Analysis: Lessons from Khon Kaen, Thailand

Deliberative policy analysis has its origins in the argumentative turn in policy analysis. It emerged as an alternative to the use of standard empirical-analytic methods of the social sciences to solve public policy problems. Not only has the conventional neo-positivist approach failed to produce the promised results, it has generally operated with a technocratic, and largely an anti-democratic, bias. Basic to deliberative policy analysis is a method for bringing together a wider spectrum of citizens, politician and experts in the pursuit of policy decisions that are both effective and democratically legitimate. This paper begins with an outline of the theoretical perspectives underlying deliberative policy analysis. Then, the practice is illustrated by the case of Khon Kaen City in Thailand, which shows how the approach has moved from a theory to a practical method for policy decision-making.