The Politics of Failed Policies

Sarah James's The Politics of Failed Policies analyzes how the production, collection, and interpretation of data are political acts that influence whether policy failures get acknowledged and addressed.

Using case studies from education, juvenile justice, and business tax incentives, she shows that credible, well-analyzed data can empower harmed groups and prompt reform, while weak or decentralized data often preserves the status quo.

The book argues that capacity for data collection and analysis is itself a political choice with long-term consequences for accountability.

James combines archival research, legislative hearing analysis, and real-world experience as an educator and principal to trace how states differed in recognizing policy failure.

The work contributes to scholarship on policymaking, state politics, and the role of knowledge in contemporary American governance.