Heroes and Legends of Policy Analysis Seminar Series
Join Dr. Steven Hayward for a special Fall Semester lunchtime seminar series exploring the foundational figures of policy analysis. A strong background in public policy requires familiarity with the trailblazing thinkers—both past and present—who shaped the discipline. Throughout this series, Dr. Hayward will introduce key intellectual figures, unpack their core ideas, and extract critical insights to help navigate today’s modern policy challenges.
Event Highlights
- Room Location: SPP room 175
- Perks: Complimentary lunch provided for each registered guest
- Requirements: None—no required readings, assignments, or prep work necessary
Whether you want to deepen your theoretical foundation or simply gain actionable insights over lunch, all are welcome to attend!
SESSION ONE: Social Science as Moral Science: The Unique Insights of James Q. Wilson and Edward Banfield
While modern social science often leans heavily on "value-free" empiricism and raw data, policy analysis at its best integrates both empirical facts and moral principles. In this opening session of the Heroes and Legends of Policy Analysis series, Dr. Hayward explores the groundbreaking work of James Q. Wilson—designer of the School of Public Policy's unique curriculum—and his frequent collaborator Edward Banfield, the legendary Harvard political scientist. Together, Wilson and Banfield challenged pure positivism to produce some of the most enduring analyses on core societal issues, including crime, welfare, urban policy, and social capital.
Details
When
September 28, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
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Where
School of Public Policy, Room 175
24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA, Malibu, California, 90263, United States
Contact
Melissa Espinoza
melissa.espinoza@pepperdine.edu
310-506-7490
.