Policy Analysis in Belgium

“This is an excellent addition to a valuable series. Marleen Brans, David Aubin and their colleagues demonstrate what is unique about policy making in Belgium as well as how common approaches to policy analysis are applied in this setting. The contributions in this volume will cause any student of policy to think a bit more deeply about the role of context.” B. Guy Peters, University of Pittsburgh

Marleen Brans is professor of public policy and administration at the KU Leuven Public Governance Institute. Her research interests include policy planning, the relationship betwen administrators and citizens, and the production and use of policy advice by academics, civil servants, personal advisors, and strategic advisory bodies.

David Aubin is associate professor of political science at Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium. He is currently director of the Master's in public administration and teaches courses in policy analysis and evaluation, and in sustainability.

Introduction: Policy analysis in Belgium: tradition, comparative features, and trends ~ Marleen Brans and David Aubin;

Part I: Policy styles and methods in Belgium;

The policy analytical profession in Belgium ~ David Aubin, Marleen Brans and Ellen Fobé;

Analytical techniques in Belgian policy analysis ~ Ellen Fobé, Bart De Peuter, Maxime Petit Jean and Valérie Pattyn ;

Political control and bureaucratic expertise: Policy analysis by ministerial cabinet members ~ Marleen Brans, Christian de Visscher, Athanassios Gouglas and Sylke Jaspers;

Part II: Policy analysis in the government and legislature;

Policy analysis in the central and regional governments ~ David Aubin, Marleen Brans and Ellen Fobé;

Local planning in Belgium: a myriad of policy styles? ~ Ellen Wayenberg, Min Reuchamps, Marine Kravagna and Catherine Fallon;

Policy analysis in the Belgian legislatures: the marginal role of a structurally weak parliament in a partitocracy with no scientific and political tradition of policy analysis ~ Lieven De Winter and Wouter Wolfs;

Policy advisory bodies in Belgium ~ Ellen Fobé, Benjamin Biard, Nathalie Schiffino and M. Brans;

Part III: Policy analysis by political parties and interest groups;

Ideas as close as possible to power: Belgian political parties and their study centres ~ Valérie Pattyn, Steven Van Hecke, Pauline Pirlot, Benoît Rihoux and Marleen Brans;

Interest groups and policy analysis in Belgium: examining the policy-analytical capacities and practices of prominent citizen and economic groups ~ Bert Fraussen, Nele Bossens, Alex Wilson, and Michael Keating;

Part IV: Policy analysis and the public;

Public consultation and participation in Belgium: directly engaging citizens beyond the ballot box? ~ Jan Van Damme, Vincent Jacquet, Nathalie Schiffino and Min Reuchamps ;

The role of news media in the policy process in Belgium ~ Baldwin Van Gorp and Dave Sinardet;

Part V: Policy analysis by advocates and academics;

Thinking in splendid isolation? The organisation and policy engagement of think tanks in Belgium ~ Bert Fraussen, Valérie Pattyn and Justin Lawarée;

Policy analysis by academics ~ Marleen Brans, David Aubin and Valérie Smet;

Policy analysis instruction in Belgium ~ Marleen Brans, David Aubin and Silke Ruebens.