Public action and policies

Research into public policy and public action has developed as an extension of the sociology of the State. It no longer simply studies the structure of the State and the civil service and now takes into account what the State does and the public policies it develops and implements. This research is at the crossroads of different approaches ranging from the study of social movements and the construction of public issues to research into the forms and methods of implementing public action. The latter field of study covers decision-making processes and the analysis of the public and private stakeholders involved. Research into public action is multi-disciplinary and uses a variety of qualitative and quantitative survey methods. Among the issues covered by this research are the following: the role of power and political power in the production of public action and modes of government; the issues of inequalities; the links between collective action, social involvement and differentiated forms of politicisation in society; methods of action and the choice of instruments for action; the evaluation of public policies; the question of expertise and, more broadly, the association of scientific knowledge with public decision-making.

Research centers and networks