Public Policy and Administration

The Public Administration and Public Policy Specialist Group formed in 1995, with Professor R.A.W. Rhodes as its first Convenor. It organises seminars and conference panels, and provides funding for public policy, administration and management-related events.

The group aims to provide a focus for academics teaching and researching in the fields of public administration, public policy and management. It encompasses both UK and European perspectives, as well as wider comparative interests including the Americas, Africa,  Australaisia and Asia.

The study of public administration is multidisciplinary and can be found located in business schools as well as social science departments, its practitioners occupy positions throughout the public sector as well as those private organisations and NGOs involved in the delivery of public services. There is no one theory or group of theories, but a multiplicity of approaches that draw on political science and economics as well as sociology and philosophy. Our study group explores these approaches and perspectives and encourages all with an interest in public policy, administration and management to collaborate.

The group co-convenors are Dr Stephen Greasley (University of Exeter), Dr Dion Curry (Swansea University) and Dr Nick Dickinson (University of Oxford). To join or find out more, please email us using the email addresses to the right.

Follow us on Twitter at @policy_psa

PPASG at PSA 2025 University of Birmingham, Call for Abstracts 

The call for papers for the PSA annual conference 2025 (Birmingham, April 14-16) is now open.  This year the submission process is centralised. You should submit your abstracts for consideration to the PSA site via this link:   PSA 75th Annual International Conference | Ex Ordo   and indicate that you would like to be part of the Public Policy and Administration panels. 

We are happy to consider papers on any element of Public Policy and Administration from anywhere in the world, but we do encourage submissions that reflect on the challenges facing the new Labour government.

The deadline for submission is the 18 October.

We are also happy to consider proposals for complete panels.  If you do want to discuss your ideas with us before you make a submission to the portal please do email :

d.s.d.curry@swansea.ac.uk;  Stephen.greasley@exeter.ac.uk