Theories of the policy process: What is British and what is universal? A polite reply to Marsh and McCaffrie

The ‘policy communities’ literature has stood the test of time because it describes a ‘universal’ logic for groups and governments to interact. To deal with complex government, policymakers divide their responsibilities into manageable units, and delegate responsibility for policymaking to bureaucrats, who form relationships with the groups from which they seek information and advice. Governments come and go, and these relationships vary from issue to issue, but the logic of consultation does not change. In this article, we describe this process, situate it within a broader discussion of policy theory, and use these insights to respond to the points made by Marsh and McCaffrie.