Fourteen NGOs, civil society and policy analysis: from mutual disinterest to reciprocal investment
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Laurie Boussaguet
Abstract
This chapter examines the role played by NGOs and civil society organizations in the development of policy analysis in France. Little attention has been devoted in the literature to systematically analyzing the evolving relationships between NGOs and state organizations across time and policy sectors. Drawing on examples from different policy domains, this chapter explores the role played by NGOs and civil society organizations in the development of policy analysis in three different ways. First, the chapter maps out who these groups are, in which policy field they operate, and how they evolved over time. Second, it examines the extent to which such organizations recently engaged in the development of policy analysis within the French context according to a classic distinction between policy insiders and policy outsiders, meaning those groups that (un)willingly oppose state organizations within policy-making. Finally, it considers the extent to which policy tools and instruments have shaped this recent turn through the opening of policy-making processes to both organized civil society organizations and a larger variety of less-structured groups. This is done across a large number of policy issues (e.g., culture, environment, women’s rights, anti-poverty, health, etc.)
Abstract
This chapter examines the role played by NGOs and civil society organizations in the development of policy analysis in France. Little attention has been devoted in the literature to systematically analyzing the evolving relationships between NGOs and state organizations across time and policy sectors. Drawing on examples from different policy domains, this chapter explores the role played by NGOs and civil society organizations in the development of policy analysis in three different ways. First, the chapter maps out who these groups are, in which policy field they operate, and how they evolved over time. Second, it examines the extent to which such organizations recently engaged in the development of policy analysis within the French context according to a classic distinction between policy insiders and policy outsiders, meaning those groups that (un)willingly oppose state organizations within policy-making. Finally, it considers the extent to which policy tools and instruments have shaped this recent turn through the opening of policy-making processes to both organized civil society organizations and a larger variety of less-structured groups. This is done across a large number of policy issues (e.g., culture, environment, women’s rights, anti-poverty, health, etc.)
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Editors’ introduction to the series xiii
- Policy analysis in France: introduction 1
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The styles and methods of public policy analysis
- On the path to public policy analysis: an ‘administrative science’ between reform and academy 31
- The emergence of modern policy analysis in France 47
- Recent developments within French policy studies 63
- Methods of French policy studies 79
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Policy analysis by governments
- Civil servants and policy analysis in central government 101
- Policy analysis in French local government 119
- Beyond weakness: policy analysis in the French parliament 137
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Committees, public inquiries, and consultants
- Public inquiries, committees 157
- Management consultants as policy actors 175
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Parties, interest groups, research institutes and think tanks
- The field of state expertise 191
- Political parties and think tanks: policy analysis oriented toward office-seeking 209
- Economic interest groups and policy analysis in France 225
- NGOs, civil society and policy analysis: from mutual disinterest to reciprocal investment 243
- Trade union expertise in public policy 261
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Academic policy analysis
- Economics and policy analysis: ‘from state to market’? 279
- The academic world of French policy studies: training, teaching and researching 295
- Public policy analysis in France: from public action to political power 313
- Index 333
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Editors’ introduction to the series xiii
- Policy analysis in France: introduction 1
-
The styles and methods of public policy analysis
- On the path to public policy analysis: an ‘administrative science’ between reform and academy 31
- The emergence of modern policy analysis in France 47
- Recent developments within French policy studies 63
- Methods of French policy studies 79
-
Policy analysis by governments
- Civil servants and policy analysis in central government 101
- Policy analysis in French local government 119
- Beyond weakness: policy analysis in the French parliament 137
-
Committees, public inquiries, and consultants
- Public inquiries, committees 157
- Management consultants as policy actors 175
-
Parties, interest groups, research institutes and think tanks
- The field of state expertise 191
- Political parties and think tanks: policy analysis oriented toward office-seeking 209
- Economic interest groups and policy analysis in France 225
- NGOs, civil society and policy analysis: from mutual disinterest to reciprocal investment 243
- Trade union expertise in public policy 261
-
Academic policy analysis
- Economics and policy analysis: ‘from state to market’? 279
- The academic world of French policy studies: training, teaching and researching 295
- Public policy analysis in France: from public action to political power 313
- Index 333
