This report discusses the role and function of pressure groups with regard to policy formation and implementation in Australian education. It is addressed to the scholar interested in gaining further insight into the structure and operation of the political and educational systems, as well as to those engaged or involved in the whole educational…

The major proposition in this essay is that black politics is moving from the tumultuous politics of idealistic protest to a cautious politics of backlash pragmatism. (Author)

The relative influence on public policy exerted by the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the government are placed in a historical perspective in this discussion of political influences affecting education. Also included is an assessment of the growing influence of special interest groups, lobbyists, and Political Action Groups.…

Discusses factors which shaped the American city during the last 20 years, including those associated with demography, decreases in public spending on social services, changing international economy, the growing importance of self-interest groups, and the proliferation of urban policy initiatives. Outlines briefly some trends in urban research.…

Discusses social science research and policy decisions in terms of a closely scrutinized RAND Corporation project for the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Describes the design process of the RAND proposal for desegregation research and critiques the style of social science associated with technical and theoryless empiricism. (RH)

Factors that have shaped the practice of federal program evaluation in Canada are discussed, including accountability, federal policy issues, political actors, organizational structures, and political and governmental changes. A key issue is that of promise versus performance. (SLD)

French second language instruction in Australian schools is seen as endangered by political and economic forces favoring other "priority" languages. Arguments in favor of continued French language instruction are presented. (MSE)

Examined is the political relevance of discussions of how disabilities are determined and administered. Michael Foucault's work is presented as the basis for interpreting literature on disability from a viewpoint which is sensitive to variations in epistemological presuppositions and to political implications of research for the administration and…

Arguing that empowering research techniques cannot, in and of themselves, inform and support the political aspirations of emancipatory intervention, this article outlines a critical approach to evaluation more consistent with the principles of empowering intervention. The Canadian Treasury Board's guide to program evaluation is used as an example.…

The history of language in the United States shows trends and movements that embrace and at times reject the accommodation of other languages in public life. However, there has always been resistance to creating an exclusively monolingual society. Instead, a cyclical pattern best describes U.S. language policy through the major periods in U.S.…

The structure of U.S. congressional support for college student financial aid during the 96th and 97th Congresses was assessed. Senators' roll call votes on student aid legislation were analyzed, using factor and discriminant analysis. Using a content-free classification scheme, attention was directed to whether voting patterns were…

Business policy texts identify numerous steps that make up the policy implementation process for private firms. On the surface, these steps also appear applicable to the implementation of public policies. However, the problems of carrying out these implementing steps in the public sector are significantly different than in the private sector due…

A more effective approach to strategic planning and management must be based on an understanding of the political dynamics through which policies are made. (Available from Subscriptions Manager, Pergamon Press Ltd., Headington Hill Hall, Oxford OX3 OBW, England; $60.00 annually.) (Author)

The evaluator as purveyor of truth may be seen as one more lobbyist competing for politicians' attention. This article explains how evaluators can present their results forcefully in the political arena. Available from: Evaluation, 501 South Park Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415. (CP)