Book Review: Patterns of Social Policy, an Introduction to Comparative Analysis
| Author | Paul Wilding |
| Published date | 01 September 1986 |
| Date | 01 September 1986 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/014473948600600208 |
| Subject Matter | Book Reviews |
evaluates
models
that
perceive
central
and
local
government
working
in
tandem
to
perpetuate
the
economic
system
(local
state),
increasing
central
control
over
local
authorities
(autonomy
and
discretion),
and
functional
dualism
which
has
resulted
in
a
widening
role
for
both
central
and
local
state
apparatus
-
"in
the
long
run
a
permanent
inner
urban
dimension
has
created
all
kinds
of
opportunities
for
inter-
vention
by
the
state
in
areas
previously
beyond
its
domain".
This
is
an
enigmatic
book,
in
spite
of
the
fact
that
it
is
well
argued
and
presented,
and
a
rich
source
of
ideas
as
a
textbook
for
students
of
urban
studies
and
public
administration.
A
narrower
focus,
a
clearer
articulation
of
the
author's
views
and
policy
prescriptions,
and
a
more
ambi
tious
concluding
section
would
have
been
very
helpful
in
erasing
the
impression
that
the
manuscript
appears
to
have
been
long
in
its
gestation.
In
short,
the
debate
has
moved
on.
GWYN
WILLIAMS
Department
of
Town
Planning.
University
of
Manchester
PATTERNS
OF
SOC
I
AL
POll
CY
•
AN
I
NTRODUCT
ION
TO
COMPARATIVE
ANALYSIS
C.
Jones
(Tavistock
Publications,
1985,
229pp,
E7.95)
This
is
a
very
stimulating
book
and
I
am
certain
that
I
shall
get
even
more
out
of
it
when
I
read
it
for
a
second
time
than
I
did
at
first
reading.
It
has
a
seemingly
simple
aim
-
to
introduce
students
to
comparative
enquiry.
But
how
best
to
teach
comparative
social
policy
is
the
subject
of
a
long
standing
debate
among
teachers
of
social
policy
-
about
whether
it
can
or
should
be
taught
as
a
separate
subject
and,
if
it
can,
about
how
it
should
be
taught.
104
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