Understanding the role of ideas in public administration: The cases of Canadian and UK immigration policy-making

This commentary shares some observations and insights on Jennifer Elrick’s book Making Middle-Class Multiculturalism. In particular, it explores the book’s contribution to theorising policy-making in public administration, which shows how ‘street-level’ processes of deliberation and decision-making became aggregated and institutionalised, profoundly shaping the direction of Canadian immigration policy. The commentary shares some insights comparing the Canadian case with that of the UK in the 1960s. It also reflects on Elrick’s discussion on the role of background ideas or ‘cultural repertoires’ in shaping policy-making. The commentary suggests that this analysis could usefully be developed through engaging with literature on organisational sociology, notably its insights into organisational culture, legitimation, institutional decoupling and isomorphism.