Policy analysis is the application of intellect to the definition of and solution to policy problems. Thus understood, policy analysis is a craft (Weimer, 1998), drawing on both specialist and generalist knowledge and skills (Colebatch and Radin, 2006). It draws on the application of more or less formalised policy-analytical skills, but also on the ability to engage in interactions with stakeholders, and to communicate effectively with political executives. In this sense, policy analysis is only loosely defined and encompasses policy-analytical activities that garner and analyse information as well as the activities of policy workers aimed at integrating policy-relevant political judgement, experience and the value positions of stakeholders.

This chapter analyses the locus and modus of in-house policy analysis in the Belgian central and regional governments. It describes the way in which policy-analytical roles within the departments and agencies are organised, and what kind of resources civil servants have for conducting policy analysis. The analysis draws on a survey conducted in 2013-15, specifically designed with this book in mind.

In-house policy analysis has long been recognised as a core function of modern bureaucracies (Lasswell, 1971; Meltsner, 1976; Peters, 1989). Even when acknowledging that civil servants are not the only actors engaged in policy analysis, and many external policy-analytical activities contribute to policy framing, agenda setting and other stages in the policy process, in-house policy analysis remains a relevant object of study because the very production of public policy is still located within the authoritative sphere of government. The translation of ideas, representations of problems and their solutions, and causal models into legal texts, policy instruments and the provision of public goods and services still remains a government activity. Because of their proximity to the political executives who ultimately carry the responsibility for policy decisions, the people serving these executives are a special kind of stakeholder in the policy process, and deserve special scrutiny as they act as gatekeepers, arbitrators and writers committed to legal drafting.

In Belgium, the people who serve the government are both civil servants and ministerial advisers. While Chapter Three delves into the policy-analytical roles and tasks of ministerial advisers, this chapter focuses on the location of in-house policy analysts, their analytical and information-processing activities, and their advice-seeking behaviour.