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Book Review

Michael HILL & Peter HUPE, Implementing Public Policy (4th ed.)

Allegra H. Fullerton
p. 274-276
Bibliographical reference

Hill, Michael & Hupe, Peter, Sage Publications, 2022. ISBN 9781529724875

Full text

1In this updated text, “Implementing Public Policy,” Michael Hill and Peter Hupe present an expansive exploration of policy implementation, weaving together historical analysis, theoretical underpinnings, and practical lessons. The authors state the book's goals as twofold: to give and make relevant connections through implementation theory and research, and to offer an alternative conceptualization of implementation in terms of government analysis. This book successfully reaches these goals; this fourth volume, structured in three comprehensive parts, embarks on a journey from the conceptual foundations of implementation as a scholarly subject, to its interdependence with government action, and concludes with the many sides of implementation research. Substantively, this book provides a comparative focus, grapples with implementation in populist political environments, and advises implementation scholars to examine and incorporate political judgment into future studies.

2The introductory chapters take a historical perspective and shares the foundation of implementation both through explicit implementation studies (Pressman & Wildavsky, 1973) and studies that implicitly study implementation, such as the rule of law, discretion, or administrative law. This retrospection is not merely an academic exercise but serves to critique the existing ambiguities in the field, and the text then carefully considers how to define implementation and other pertinent concepts. The authors keep their twofold goals front and center. Throughout the entire text, they emphasize implementation’s central role in governance, in addition to the more traditional perception of implementation as merely a tool for achieving policy goals. Such a wide-ranging perspective is invaluable for understanding the multifaceted nature of policy implementation.

3The theoretical discussion in the book is particularly noteworthy. It shares the longstanding top-down/bottom-up debate and the emergence of comprehensive approaches, providing a historical context for the theoretical foundations of implementation studies. Furthermore, the book offers a detailed analysis of various implementation theories, including the policy implementation process model, the communication model, the Advocacy Coalition Framework, the policy regime perspective, and the integrated implementation model.

4As the book progresses, it shifts focus to implementation as government in action, highlighting its role in governance. It explores the overlap between implementation research and public administration, particularly through examinations of various operational governance regimes and modes. The authors synthesize tomes of information easily and supplement with case studies and examples throughout, including seminal studies and capturing the dynamics of policy implementation during COVID-19 (when the book was authored). The book reminds us that government actors must always act and offers insight into what policy implementation research can offer practitioners. Lastly, this new edition's chapter on populism is particularly timely, reflecting the dynamic nature of political and social contexts and their impact on policy implementation.

5The book concludes by examining the future of policy implementation, highlighting the multiple governance frameworks and street-level bureaucracy while giving ample attention to discretion and the political context of policy. The authors advocate for and share several examples throughout of a comparative perspective in understanding policy and implementation, highlighting the need for macro and micro-level studies. They emphasize the importance of political judgment in implementation studies and remind us to maintain a holistic view while addressing complex issues in policy matters.

6For scholars in public policy, administration, and related fields, this book provides a foundational understanding of policy implementation, connecting historical context with contemporary theoretical debates. It is an essential read for those seeking to deepen their understanding of the complexities of policy implementation in modern governance or for those teaching policy processes.

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Bibliography

Pressman, J. L., & Wildavsky, A. (1973). Implementation. University of California Press

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References

Bibliographical reference

Allegra H. Fullerton, Michael HILL & Peter HUPE, Implementing Public Policy (4th ed.)International Review of Public Policy, 7:2 | 2025, 274-276.

Electronic reference

Allegra H. Fullerton, Michael HILL & Peter HUPE, Implementing Public Policy (4th ed.)International Review of Public Policy [Online], 7:2 | 2025, Online since 01 June 2025, connection on 18 May 2026. URL: http://journals.openedition.org/irpp/5249; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/14ge9

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About the author

Allegra H. Fullerton

University of Colorado Denver, USA
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2783-0824

By this author

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Copyright

CC-BY-4.0

The text only may be used under licence CC BY 4.0. All other elements (illustrations, imported files) may be subject to specific use terms.

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