Smoking and Politics: Policy Making and the Federal Bureaucracy (5th Edition) [Paperback]

A. Lee Fritschler (Author), James M. Hoefler (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0134358015 | ISBN-13: 978-0134358017 | Publication Date: July 11, 1995 | Edition: 5

This volume considers why government agencies and bureaucracies have become important and how they operate in influencing and even creating public policy. Explores and analyzes the processes of bureaucratic (governmental) policy decision making by focusing on a single contemporary issue — the government's efforts to discourage cigarette smoking by requiring warning labels on cigarette packages and advertisements.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“I drew on Smoking and Politics in writing my doctoral dissertation 35 years ago. Now in a thoroughly updated sixth edition, this remarkably successful book dissects a critical public health issue where legislative, regulatory, judicial, and interest group politics intersect. Fritschler and Rudder cut through political pressures and intergovernmental jockeying with clarity and insight, giving particular attention to the often-underestimated role of executive and independent agencies in policy making. “

David Price, Member of Congress, 4^th District, North Carolina

 

“Fritschler and Rudder have done a superb job of weaving together the complexities involved in addressing the number one controllable cause of death in world. They show that good intentions must be supplemented by deep knowledge of political institutions and strategic savvy. This brief volume will be valuable to anyone who wants to understand how policy actually is made.”

            David A. Kessler, M.D.,  former Commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug   Administration, Dean, University of California San Francisco, School of Medicine

 

“A must read for any student of government, Fritschler and Rudder's new edition  of Smoking and Politics: Bureaucracy Centered Policy Making utilizes the tobacco wars as a format to point out the importance of the bureaucracy to solve critical problems and to provide an alternative law making forum. By utilizing the tobacco wars as the central theme, they make the subject interesting and readable.  The book points out the full panoply of bureaucratic processes including regulation, litigation, rule making, researching, and plain old politicking. Fritschler and Rudder have produced an excellent text for students and non-students alike." 

 Judith P. Wilkenfeld, Vice President, International Department, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids

 

“Smoking and Politics” has become an American public policy classic, and a case study that is a must read for any scholar or student interested in how public policy is really made in our national government. This 6^th edition of the book updates and provides new perspectives on the dynamic interaction of politicians, business interests, and the nation’s professional bureaucracy.”

Charles F. Bonser, Founding Dean and Professor, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University

 

“Hooray for Fritschler and Rudder!!  This policy making classic keeps getting better--it is an invaluable analysis of the way stalwart bureaucrats and regulators can provide crucial political leadership in this many splendored yet many splintered constitutional system.”

 

            Thomas E. Cronin, McHugh Professor of  American Institutions and Leadership, Colorado College , author of Government by the People (21^st edition, 2005).

           

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

This brief companion text considers why government agencies and bureaucracies have become important and how they operate in influencing and even creating public policy. It explores the processes of bureaucratic policy decision making by focusing on a single contemporary issue -- the regulation of cigarette smoking.

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 5 edition (July 11, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0134358015
• ISBN-13: 978-0134358017
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #906,346 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good info, but disorganized, October 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Smoking and Politics: Policy Making and the Federal Bureaucracy (5th Edition) (Paperback)

Federal policy with regard to tobacco has undergone substantial change over the past thirty years. Fritschler and Hoefler have regularly updated their book, to include these new changes. Unfortunately for them, the mid- to late-1990s has seen a whole new series of proposals, which means a two year old book is already somewhat out of date.

Also, with each new edition, they've tried to maintain the general organization of their earlier editions. This means the fifth edition tells a somewhat disjointed story. The book jumps repeated from the 1960s to the 1970s to the 1980s and 1990s, then back again. Often, this leaves the reader confused as to exactly *when* a particular change occurred.

The book's strongest point is that it clearly illustrates the importance of the bureaucracy in making [not just implementing] public policy. Many policy texts present the mistaken impression that Congress makes policy and the bureaucracy implements policy. Fritschler and Hoefler do policy students a great service by demonstrating the importance of the federal rulemaking process, and the ability of an activist bureaucracy to make or motivate substantial changes in federal policy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Reference For Historical Politics Of Smoking, March 24, 2003

By 

K. Johnson (US/Asia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Smoking and Politics: Policy Making and the Federal Bureaucracy (5th Edition) (Paperback)

"Smoking and Politics," presents the mechanical bureaucratic and political moves that involve PACs, lobbyist firms, and constituents. There are ample amounts of administrative information that is important to explain what happened and why, but it can overwhelm some. However, it does reflect the complexities of the legislative process.

In recent years there have been many legislative and legalistic transformations since Fritschler began this book (first edition). This book is commonly read, studied, and dissected at some point in a public administration student's college stint. Compromising, steps forward and back, lobbying, and watershed legislation are presented here highlighting the individuals and organizations involved. (The who, what, how, why, and where.) It's what I call "Machiavellian bureaucratic implementation of policy." Those doing research into the historical politics of smoking, and/or the public policy process involving smoking in particular will get a lot of facts from this.

4.0 out of 5 stars Clear explanation of a complex issue, September 28, 2011

By 

Olivia - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Smoking and Politics: Policy Making and the Federal Bureaucracy (5th Edition) (Paperback)

I read this book for a policy analysis class and was surprised at how concise and clear the writers made this issue. I would recommend it to anyone interested in how policy is made and changed, or to anyone who just wants to know more about the history of smoking in America.