Policy Analysis of Multi-Actor System - Second Edition

Reviewed by EVAN MISTUR, Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Arlington on 11/17/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

This textbook provides a thorough and detailed synthesis of the process of setting up policy analyses within complex, multi-actor systems. While it largely avoids discussion on the policy and economic concepts guiding the causal relationships at work in policy arenas and only provides cursory explanation of the major analytical methodologies that are used to conduct the analyses themselves it provides a highly comprehensive summary of the concepts it does address. Thus, while the content may not be sufficient to guide students through the completion of a policy analysis project from start to finish, as is required in many graduate-level policy analysis classes, this textbook provides students a rich understanding of the skills and steps necessary to appropriately conceptualize and frame such projects in complex environments. This book would serve well as either an undergraduate policy analysis text or a supplementary text for masters or PhD level policy analysis courses.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content in this textbook is well-researched, described, and presented. It is accurate, free of obvious errors, and presented to students without bias. The authors have done an excellent job of collecting relevant materials, citing published research that effectively contributes to the concepts being discussed, and presenting their materials with accuracy.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content of this textbook is highly relevant to the current context of policy analysis and will remain so for the foreseeable future. The major processes being discussed are unlikely to change drastically and will provide a consistent guide for future scholars to frame their work and while the list of methodologies that are used to conduct the analyses themselves continues to grow, they are described in a straightforward and modular format, making it easy for potential updates if the authors decide that discussion of newer methods should be added. Additionally, the examples used in the textbook are all highly relevant to the modern context, many of which have been updated quite recently and remain relevant and interesting to current students.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is concise, straight-forward, and well written. It is easy to read and understand and supplements the text with an appropriate number of figures and tables, facilitating understanding of the text without overcomplicating it.

Consistency rating: 5

The text is internally consistent throughout the entire textbook, further facilitating ease of use both in terms of reading and modular use.

Modularity rating: 4

While references to different sections in the book appear in the text, most of the book remains very modular. It is structured in a streamlined manner and organized such that chapters, as well as individual sections, can be selected out and used in isolation as assigned readings for a course. The final chapters focused on combining and synthesizing the subject matter discussed in earlier chapters are an exception to this rule as they are written as a culmination of the work presented earlier and would be confusing out of order. However, the early chapters presenting the processes for setting up an analysis project would be useful in other contexts.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The textbook is presented in a structured and orderly manner and flows quite naturally from one chapter to the next. If presented as a whole, the book flows in a straightforward manner towards the final chapters summarizing how previously discussed aspects of the policy analysis process can be integrated, reducing the modularity of later chapters but enhancing the overall structure of the text if taken as a whole.

Interface rating: 5

The text is easy to read and understand in both digital and print formats; there are no glaring interface issues that would distract the reader.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text is free of obvious spelling and grammar issues.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

Many of the examples used in the textbook are tailored to a European, and more specifically a Dutch, perspective. While this does not distract from the conceptual content in the text, some of the examples may not be as relevant for students in other countries or regions. Obviously, the merits of this choice depend on where the text is being used as this would benefit students in the Netherlands while potentially lowering the interest of foreign students, but it may be important to note that the authors made the decision to sacrifice universality for specificity in the Dutch context.

In the second edition of Policy Analysis of Multi-Actor Systems Enserink et al. provide a well constructed synthesis of the process of setting up policy analyses within complex, interactive policy environments. The text can be useful in a wide variety of course settings focused on public policy, policy analysis, and approaching wicked problems either as a whole or broken into modular sections.