This paper advances Marxist Critical Policy Analysis (MCPA) - a
particular form of Critical Policy Analysis. I contrast it with ‘Traditional
Policy Analysis’ (TPA) and with ‘Critical Policy Analysis’ (CPA),
generally, and, with respect to Education, work by Michael W. Apple,
Stephen J. Ball, and wider reformist, postmodern and
intersectional/identitarian analysis.
Marxist Critical Policy Analysis is applicable to different areas of policy -
for example, economic, fiscal, labour, foreign, immigration, defence,
housing, transport, environmental, civil liberties, and human rights
policies. MCPA can be applied at any level (local, regional, national or
global).
MCPA, what, in relation to education, I earlier termed ‘Critical Education
Policy Analysis’ (Hill 2009a) centres on the question of ‘Who Wins, Who
Loses?’ but, more precisely, which ‘raced’ and gendered social class, or
class strata, or fractions or layers, win or lose? And what do they win or
lose, when, where, and how.
I critique, in particular, Critical (Education) Policy Analyses (CPA) and
associated theoretical/ideological developments that deny the salience of class, occlude class consciousness, are reformist capitalist rather than
revolutionary anti-capitalist Marxist and dismiss or disable revolutionary
activism. I conclude by setting out what is specifically Marxist about
Marxist Critical Policy Analysis (MCPA).