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Generalised and Particularistic Thinking in Policy Analysis and Practice: The Case of Governance Reform in South Africa
Author(s) -
Frödin Olle
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
development policy review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.671
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1467-7679
pISSN - 0950-6764
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-7679.2009.00447.x
Subject(s) - corporate governance , context (archaeology) , argument (complex analysis) , variety (cybernetics) , policy analysis , public administration , political science , transaction cost , conceptual framework , regional science , economics , sociology , management , social science , computer science , geography , biochemistry , chemistry , archaeology , artificial intelligence , microeconomics
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.