LIST OF PANELS

Policy implementation has become a theme of increasing theoretical attention. Analysis of implementation has concentrated on classical top-down, bottom-up and integrated approaches. During the last decades alternative perspectives have emerged to analyze implementation through the network approach and the principal-agent framework. Although these classical perspectives have contributed to expand our understanding of putting in practice public policies, contribution from recent years are indicating the need to expand the study of policy implementation beyond these classical perspectives.  On the other hand, most of the approaches used to analyze implementation have been originated in studies from the United States and Europe. Hence, an interesting question is whether case studies from other realities may confirm the validity of classical approaches, identify the same problems that recent literature from the US and Europe are envisioning or may suggest new perspectives in the analysis of policy implementation. Thus, the panel is aimed to discuss empirical evidence provided by case studies on policy implementation in different contexts. Although the panel is open to any cases, the presentation of case studies from Latin America, East Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania is highly encouraged.

Policy implementation has become a theme of increasing theoretical attention. Analysis of implementation has concentrated on classical top-down, bottom-up and integrated approaches. During the last decades alternative perspectives have emerged to analyze implementation through the network approach and the principal-agent framework. Although these classical perspectives have contributed to expand our understanding of putting in practice public policies, contribution from recent years are indicating the need to expand the study of policy implementation beyond these classical perspectives. For instance, Hill and Hupe (2009) see the future of these studies linked to the study of governance. Robichau and Lynn (2009) argue that public policy theories and theories of governance do not complement very well each other and that multilevel governance theories may supply what continues to be the missing link in policy implementation analysis.  In turn, Ramesh (2008) points out that “implementation is discussed as flowing from policy” in the policy literature and that there is evidence indicating an inverse relationship, from implementation to policy-making. And Hupe (2014) states that the top-down controversy appears to be over and the theory-practice relationship, the multi-layer problem and the link between policy and politics should be the focus of implementation research. On the other hand, most of the approaches used to analyze implementation have been originated in studies from the United States and Europe. Hence, an interesting question is whether case studies from other realities may confirm the validity of classical approaches, identify the same problems that recent literature from the US and Europe are envisioning or may suggest new perspectives in the analysis of policy implementation. Thus, the panel is aimed to discuss empirical evidence provided by case studies on policy implementation in different contexts. Although the panel is open to any cases, the presentation of case studies from Latin America, East Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania is highly encouraged.