What Is Decentred Analysis?

Abstract

Introduction: Policy analysis provides information, evaluation, advice and advocacy for policymakers and is typically a species of naturalist or ‘scientific’ or positivist social science. It has some distinguished proponents, including Yehezkel Dror (1968), Harold Lasswell (1971), and Aaron Wildavsky (1980). Among the multitude of definitions, Hill (2013: 5) is representative. He distinguishes between analysis of the policy process and analysis for the policy process. The former is descriptive and analytical seeking to explain the origins of policy and how it was implemented. The latter is prescriptive using the analytical techniques often associated with eco- nomics to provide information and evaluations for policymakers....