Work

Implementation has failed, implementation studies have failed even more: Racism and the future of systemic change

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Objective This article identifies the role of structural racism in policy implementation and argues that a starting point to evaluate the potential outcomes of calls for systemic change is to better situate racism in the study of policy implementation. Method This article reviews existing policy implementation literature to assess the extent to which they account for structural racism in their analyses of policy implementation success and failure. Result Policy failures have been attributed to multiple factors, including hierarchies and communication problems, but rarely to racism. Conclusion If racism is to be taken seriously by public administration scholars, then a new conceptual understanding is called for along with better efforts to operationalize the crippling impact racism has on public organizations.

Source: Social Science Quarterly

DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.13009

Authors: Fernando Tormos‐Aponte, James E. Wright, Heath Brown

Institutions: University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Florida State University, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Language: English

Topic: Public Policy and Administration Research

Subfield: Public Administration

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W3193021025

FWCI: 1.217

Cites: 38

Cited by: 8

Related to: 10