Generalised and Particularistic Thinking in Policy Analysis and Practice: The Case of Governance Reform in South Africa
Author
Summary, in English
This article is concerned with the relationship between generalised and particularistic knowledge in the context of policy-making and policy analysis. It argues that it is problematic to assume that a reform model will generate similar outcomes across a wide variety of contexts. It presents a conceptual framework, including the concepts of transaction domain and domain consensus, that enables context-sensitive analyses. The argument is exemplified by South Africa's introduction in the 1990s of an Integrated Development Planning model, based on British reform experience and various international public-management models. With a case study of such planning in Lukhanji Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, it illustrates how the conceptual framework may be used in policy research and analysis.
Department/s
Publishing year
2009
Language
English
Pages
287-306
Publication/Series
Development Policy Review
Volume
27
Issue
3
Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Wiley
Topic
- Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)
Keywords
- local government
- Africa
- South
- development planning
- public policy
- Governance
- institutions
- governance theory
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0950-6764