Overview

This edited volume brings together leading international scholars to critically engage with and extend Carol Bacchi's influential 'What's the Problem Represented to Be?' approach, demonstrating its applicability beyond policy documents and across diverse social science disciplines.

Full Product Details

Author:   Jian Wu (Keele University) ,  Carol Bacchi (The University of Adelaide) ,  Anne Wilson ,  John Boswell (University of Southampton)
Publisher:   Bristol University Press
Imprint:   Policy Press
ISBN:  

9781447373797

ISBN 10:   1447373790
Pages:   214
Publication Date:   13 January 2026
Audience:   College/higher education ,  General/trade ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Awaiting stock  

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Applying and Augmenting the ‘What’s the Problem Represented To Be?’ - Malin Rönnblom and Rosalind Edwards Part 1: Applications and Implementations 2. What’s the ‘Problem’ of ‘Underlying Health Conditions’ Represented to Be? Applying WPR to Concepts – Carol Bacchi and Anne Wilson 3. Doing a WPR Analysis with Gender Equality Officials in Sweden: From Analysis to the Potential of Political Change – Malin Rönnblom 4. Reflecting on the Value of WPR Framework as a Teaching Tool in Public Policy Analysis – John Boswell Part 2: Augmentations and Developments 5. Examining ‘Sensitising Concepts’ of Critical Discourse Analysis and the WPR Approach – Jian Wu 6. Applying and Augmenting WPR in Discursive Policy Studies of Care: Silencing and Needs – Hanne Marlene Dahl 7. The Ontopolitics of Method: Generating Qualitative Data in a Praxiographic Approach – Kari Lancaster and Tim Rhodes 8. Genealogy and WPR: The Importance of Bacchi’s Questions When Evoking a Genealogical Sensibility – Stephen Kelly 9. Problematisation and Epistemic Injustice: An Analytical Approach – Lina Rahm and Jörgen Behrendtz Part 3: Augmentations and Reframings 10. Governing Families Through Technologies: Combining WPR and Boudieu’s ‘Construction of the Object’ – Rosalind Edwards (University of Southampton, UK) and Pamela Ugwudike 11. Where Is the Problem Represented to Be? – Tomas Mitander and Andreas Öjehag 12. Emotional Problems: Post-Structural Policy Analysis and Emotional Discourse – Stephanie Paterson and Lindsey Larios 13. Where (Critical) Hands Touch: Towards Decolonial Policy Analysis – Amelia Odida 14. Conclusion: Themes and Futures – Malin Rönnblom and Rosalind Edwards

Reviews

“As a sophisticated treatise on the existing power and latent potential of the WPR approach, this book will excite anyone interested in the political contingencies of problematisations.” Rebecca Hewer, University of Edinburgh

“This timely volume reflects the burgeoning of international and interdisciplinary engagements with the WPR approach for critical policy analysis. It will be an invaluable resource for researchers and policy activists.” Susan Goodwin, The University of Sydney “This expertly curated volume invites readers to rediscover the critical foundations and innovative potential of the WPR approach – an inspiring catalyst for fresh thinking and reflexivity in critical policy research.” Regine Paul, University of Bergen “As a sophisticated treatise on the existing power and latent potential of the WPR approach, this book will excite anyone interested in the political contingencies of problematisations.” Rebecca Hewer, University of Edinburgh

Author Information

Malin Rönnblom is Professor of Political Science at Karlstad University. Rosalind Edwards is Professor of Sociology at the University of Southampton.

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