Boswell, John: Magical Thinking in Public Policy

This book explores why naïve ideals about better policymaking persist even in cynical times, revealing the careful reflection at the heart of what appears to be 'magical thinking' in public policy, and offering new insights into the continuing appeal of such ideals.

John Boswell is Associate Professor in Politics at the University of Southampton. His expertise is in public policy, deliberative governance, and interpretive methods. His many publications on these topics include Mending Democracy: Democratic Reform in Disconnected Times (with Carolyn M. Hendriks and Selen A. Ercan; OUP, 2020), and The Art and Craft of Comparison (with Jack Corbett and R. A. W. Rhodes; CUP, 2019).