Book review: Policy without politicians: bureaucratic influence in comparative perspective

"Policy Without Politicians: Bureaucratic Influence in Comparative Perspective." Edward C. Page. Oxford University Press. September 2012. --- In Policy without Politicians a leading expert on public policy has devoted four years to interviewing middle-ranking civil servants in three languages over six jurisdictions, to construct a comparative survey of bureaucratic influence on secondary legislation. The venture may sound worthy at best, but Patricia Hogwood finds that Edward C. Page has produced a little gem: an intellectually honest, well-constructed, impeccably executed comparative study that probes beyond the speculative answers about bureaucratic influence we have become accustomed to reading.