Book review: Policy without politicians: bureaucratic influence in comparative perspective

"Policy Without Politicians: Bureaucratic Influence in Comparative Perspective." Edward C. Page. Oxford University Press. September 2012. --- In Policy without Politicians a leading expert on public policy has devoted four years to interviewing middle-ranking civil servants in three languages over six jurisdictions, to construct a comparative survey of bureaucratic influence on secondary legislation. The venture may sound worthy at best, but Patricia Hogwood finds that Edward C. Page has produced a little gem: an intellectually honest, well-constructed, impeccably executed comparative study that probes beyond the speculative answers about bureaucratic influence we have become accustomed to reading

German election reaction: Merkel wins, but her fourth term won't be an easy one

Angela Merkel's CDU/CSU won the largest share of seats in Germany's election on 24 September, but the election also saw a substantial rise in support for the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD). Patricia Hogwood writes that although Merkel has done enough to secure her fourth term as chancellor, she has seen her support drop significantly since the last election in 2013 and the coalition negotiations will be far from easy

Agencies, ministers and civil servants in Britain

Huge variations exist in the relationships between politicians and agenciesin Britain, from very frequent contact in a politicised atmosphere to thecomplete absence of a direct relationship at all. The nature of therelationship appears to be determined less by agency status as such as bythe political sensitivity of particular policy issues. While politicians are notinvolved in the day-to-day running of most agencies, they have beenconcerned with operational matters in a small number of agencies. Whilemany agencies have no direct input into policy issues (and there are fewdirectly concerning them), in a limited number of cases the agency is themain source of policy advice because it is the repository of expertise, andin others the agency has the right to be consulted about any policyproposals affecting them, and to make policy proposals. The British NextSteps agency form, because of it relatively informal status, is relativelyadaptable to new purposes. Thus, agency status as such has provided littlehindrance to the new Labour government. Similarly, while agencies wereoriginally set up and largely operate with a vertical perspective on meetingtheir own targets, the form is adaptable to cross-organisational targets,though it cannot solve conflicting objectives or policies

Peer Steinbrück’s campaign gaffes pose a major problem for the SPD in Germany’s upcoming election

One of the key aspects of the German election campaign is the personal contest between the two main Chancellor candidates, Angela Merkel of the CDU, and Peer Steinbrück of the SPD. Patricia Hogwood writes that although Steinbrück has fought an extensive campaign, his efforts have been undermined by a number of blunders. Moreover, the fact that he has ruled out entering a grand coalition with the CDU might also put his position in the SPD under pressure, should the rest of the party be prepared to jettison the face of their campaign for a place in government

Despite substantial gains in recent German regional elections, the Alternative for Germany may struggle to consolidate its federal presence

Following a run of successes in the German regions of Thuringia, Brandenburg and Saxony, Germany’s anti-Eurozone party Alternative for Germany (Alternative für Deutschland, AfD) is riding high in the polls. Patricia Hogwood writes, however, that the party may struggle to translate this success into the federal arena. In particular, the key concerns of the AfD party elites – external trade and Eurozone reform – sit awkwardly with the largely domestic concerns of their voting public, which centre on labour market and welfare state reforms and immigration. Unless the AfD can reconcile these interests, the party risks implosion under the twin pressures of warring elite factions and electoral volatility

Book review: the sociology of consumption: a global approach by Joel Stillerman

The Sociology of Consumption: A Global Approach, authored by Joel Stillerman, offers a long-overdue account of the processes and cultural relevance of consumption in the twenty-first century. Patricia Hogwood finds much to admire in this solid introduction to the diverse theoretical literatures on consumption and its exploration of the new opportunities and challenges arising for governments and citizens alike due to rapid changes in contemporary practices of consumption

Book review: the social atlas of Europe by Dimitris Ballas, Danny Dorling and Benjamin Hennig

By combining a human geography perspective with graphic representation, The Social Atlas of Europe sets out to explore European identity through the social realities experienced by Europeans. Patricia Hogwood finds the authors’ unique approach highlights the unifying features of European social life and the subtle fragmentation of ‘Europe’ that is often masked, or at least obscured, by the logic of the nation state. The work harnesses state-of-the-art geographical information systems and new cartography techniques to reveal a European identity more essential, more fluid and more intriguing than traditional perceptions allow

From devolution to revolution? Brexit threatens to stir up the UK’s regional politics

Decision-makers in Scotland and Wales await the outcome of the UK’s EU referendum with trepidation. Since their powers were introduced in the late 1990s, the devolved authorities have forged their political identities and policy programmes through active participation in European politics. As Patricia Hogwood explains, a UK exit from the EU would threaten to hollow out the powers of the devolved authorities and would be likely to spell an end to the safe and predictable ‘cooperative regionalism’ that has come to define intra-Union relations in the UK

Book review: food, families and work by Rebecca O’Connell and Julia Brannen

Rebecca O’Connell and Julia Brannen’s Food, Families and Work presents a fascinating account of the relationship between parental paid employment and family food practices in contemporary British households. The book has two central missions: to advocate and develop the use of mixed methods in research into food practices and to defend working mothers from the moral judgement of media and governments over alleged failings in their children’s diets. These apparently disparate aims in fact dovetail neatly. The authors’ mixed-methods approach reveals dimensions and linkages missed or underplayed by previous studies. What emerges is a more rounded understanding of the complex influences on British children’s diets in the twenty-first century. Reviewed by Patricia Hogwood

Book review: what is political sociology? by Elisabeth S. Clemens

In What is Political Sociology?, Elisabeth S. Clemens produces a definitive and inspirational standard text for students at all levels. Her work offers a concise overview of political sociology as the human face of politics: the politicised interactions that take place within and between the domains of family, work, civic culture and structures of government. Clemens presents key concepts, theories and schools of thought to build an excellent grounding in the field. Vividly and accurately, she harnesses the stuff of political life – conflict, collusion, manipulation, rivalry, co-operation, trust and betrayal – to convey the complexity and dynamism we bring to the organisation and management of our communities, writes Patricia Hogwood