Criticism and Public Rationality

<p>Criticism is at the heart of any political discussion and criticism of old policies is central to the development of new ones. In its analysis of political decision-making this reissue first published in 1991 examines the principles which control the process of policy criticism. It identifies two fundamental and related obstacles to this process: the privileged status accorded to 'professional judgement' and the conflicting philosophical ideas that shape political argument. Based on the study of Europe's largest local authority the book presents a theory of decision-making that can be applied to institutions at all levels.</p>