政策分析自1960年代以降，已經逐漸發展成為一個獨立的實務與學術領域。但是，不可否認的，政策分析不論從實務與理論的角度來看，仍然是政治大環境的一環，因此，作為一個稱職的政策分析師，也必須要對外在的政治環境有所了解。然而，對許多新興民主國家來說，政策分析領域的成長，常受限於許多民主轉型因素，比起民主先進國家的發展來得艱困，亟待專業人士挺身而出釐清政策分析在民主政體當中的重要性。本文將分三大部分來討論這個主題：(一)政策分析是什麼?本文將討論政策分析的沿革與定義、內涵與應用，本文特別強調「目標/方案」表在政策分析領域當中的核心地位；(二)專業政策分析師的貢獻，我們將討論政策分析師的能力、設計 並評價新的政策方案、通盤考量政策相關的社會價值等三方面；(三)政策分析在民主政治所扮演的角色，我們將討論政策分析師在代議制度中的角色、政策分析師從專業上治所扮演的角色，我們將討論政策分析師在代議制度中的角色、政策分析師從專業上為弱勢發聲、相關深化政策分析民主功能的作為等三方面；最後，我們提出政策分析在二十一世紀的目標與願景，提供專業社群一起推動台灣邁向更精緻的民主決策環境的努力方向。在學習目標上，政策分析師應該對(1)資訊相關科技、(2)量化研究方法、及(3)建立並應用分析資料庫的能力上持續強化，而在政策分析學科發展的願景上，我們也可以在(1)促進政策分析學術與實務的交流、(2)加強政策分析在決策過程中的正當性、(3)建立政策分析專業倫理等三方面繼續努力。

Policy analysis has become an independent practical and academic field since the 1960s. However, either from practical or academic perspective, policy analysis is still operated within political environment, and, therefore, a competent policy analyst must understand the environment before he/she makes any analysis. In terms of newly democratic countries, the growth of policy analysis filed was subject to democratic concerns, and consequently the professional policy analysts have to clarify the importance of policy analysis in democratic polities. This paper is divided into three sections to discuss this theme: First, a definition and the development of policy analysis and the "Goalsl /Alternatives Matrix" are introduced. Second, the ability of policy analysts to design and evaluate new policy alternatives, and to take related social values into consideration are explored as the policy analysts' contribution to democratic polities. Finally, the role of policy analysts in representative democracy is discussed, in conjunction with their responsibilities to speak for silent losers and promote democratic values. The paper concluded with two general remarks: First, the policy analysts should pay attention to the information technology, quantitative methods, and database build-up and renewal. Second, the field of policy analysis demands efforts from practicians and academicians, demands the legitimacy in the decision-making processes, and demands policy analysts' professional norms.