Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The phrase "an idea whose time has come" captures a fundamental reality about an irresistible movement that sweeps over our politics and our society, pushing..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This text remains the authoritative work on agenda setting and policy formation. This report on original research includes many dow-to-earth illustrations and quotations from interviews, creating enjoyable and informative reading for undergraduate students.

Product Details

• Paperback: 254 pages
• Publisher: Pearson Education; 2 edition (January 10, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0673523896
• ISBN-13: 978-0673523891
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #443,688 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great, just a little expensive, January 7, 2003

By	Carl A. Redman (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

John Kingdon attempts to answer very difficult questions in his work "Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies." What makes an idea's time come? What makes people in and around government attend to some subjects and not to others? In short, Kingdon explores how ideas become policy in his 1994 award-winning book.

The book makes many interesting conclusions, as Kingdon uses scientific research methods to discuss how ideas become policy. It is amazing that Kingdon is able to quantify how influential certain groups are to policy formulation and implementation. In doing this, he looks at the influence of groups in and outside of government. Kingdon then goes onto his major two concepts of the policy primeval soup and the political stream. Both of these are wonderful illustrations of how policymaking happens.

In the end, this is a great book for public policy students. My only complaint is that Kingdon is oftentimes too wordy. It seems that he could have written a much more effective piece by summing it up in a 40-page journal article. In any event, the book is worth the read, even if some chapters are only skimmed.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good theory, easy to read, October 9, 2004

By	Newsman78 "newsman78" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Kingdon has produced an innovative and useful theory of the policy process. This book is clearly not intended for the lay reader, but for political scientists and policy specialists interested in theorizing about policy formation.

Kingdon's writing style is somewhat formal, and at times stiff, but the book is easy to get through. Kingdon provides many concrete examples of the ideas he discusses, making the abstract principles easier to understand.

Recommended for classes on the policy process, especially in conjunction with Baumgarter and Jones' Agendas and Instability in American Politics.

33 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book on public policy formulation, July 6, 1999

By A Customer

In this very readable book, Kindgon provides an insightful perspective on how agendas are set and public policies made in the government. Using the "garbage can model" as the basis and starting point, Kindgon develops his "policy window" concept of policy making that has three fundamental components: problems, policies, and politics. Each component has a life of its own and is independent from each other. The concept of "policy entrepreneurs" is also introduced.

I highly recommend this book to anybody interested in public policy formulation.