This book draws on the latest & best social science to explain how & why social policy change occurs. Focusing on the policy making process as the key to change it uses core concepts of policy analysis one in each chapter to build up a fully worked explanation of social policy change & to equip readers with knowledge that can be applied to any aspect of welfare policy & public & social policy more generally. This second edition of the book updates the bestselling first edition for the post-Blair era with international case studies from numerous countries. Understanding the Policy Process": introduces the main themes of the policy analysis literature; demonstrates the centrality of the policy making process to an understanding of the operational possibilities & limits of social policy; takes account of macro- meso- & micro-level approaches to social policy analysis; uses clear explanations of key concepts up-to-date illustrative case studies & examples to increase students understanding of the theory & practice of policy analysis; & uses a comparative approach."