Lecture 8 - Ideas, Interests and Institutions Flashcards
When was the 3I framework created, and what is it used for?
1994
Offers a set of variables to consider in the analysis of policy change
What are ideas?
Content and strength of actors’ values and knowledge
What are interests?
Preferences and power embodied in policy actors
What are institutions?
The ‘rules of the game’ that structure policymaking in ways that favour some outcomes over others
What is the “power of ideas” perspective in political science?
Highlights the influential role of ideas, ideologies and belief systems in shaping political behaviour and policy decisions.
Emphasises that ideas have the power to shape political discourse, influence public opinion, and guide the actions of individiausl and sinstitutions
Which “I” does Rational Choice Theory relate to?
Interests
What is Rational Choice Theory
Used to try and understand social and economic behaviour
Assumes individuals act in their own best interest, weighing the cost and benefits of alternatives
How does Rational Choice Theory relate to politicians?
Rational Choice Theory assumes that voters want to maximise the chance of their favoured policy and that politicians want to win office so they will do what they need to win votes.
Aggregate distribution of opinions will be bell-curved, so poiliticians will take a place in the centre to get votes/
What are the 4 approaches to analysing ideas?
- The power of ideas: how do ideas shape political discourse, public opinion and guide actions of stakeholders?
- Problemitisations: how did the idea come to be a problem?
- Deborah Stone’s Policy Paradox: policymaking is a struggle over values and ideas, rather than a rational decision-making process
- Lakoff’s Theory of Moral Politics: ideas are deeply rooted in an individuals moral values; they can either follow a Nurturant Parent Model (emphasize empathy, cooperation, collective responsibility) or the Strict Father Model (emphasises discipline, authority and individual responsibility)
What is Lakoff’s Theory of Moral Politics?
- Focuses on the role of morality and values in shaping political beliefs and ideologies. People’s beliefs/ideologies are deeply rooted in their moral values.
2 primary metaphors that underlie political ideologies:
1) Strict Father Model: Emphasizes the importance of discipline, authority, and individual responsibility. It views the world as a competitive place where individuals must learn self-discipline and face the consequences of their actions.
2) Nurturant Parent Model: Emphasizes empathy, cooperation, and collective responsibility. It envisions a society where individuals care for one another and work together for the common good.
What are the 6 questions in Carol Bacchi’s (2009) What is the Problem Represented to Be (WPR) Framework?
- What is the problem?
- What are the presuppositions or assumptions that underlie the representation of the problem?
- How did this representation come about?
- What is left unproblematic?
- What effects are produced by this framing?
- How/where has this representation of the problembeen produced, defended and disseminated? How could it be questioned/disrupted?
Apply Bacchi’s WPR framework to the case study of vaccine hesitancy.
- What is the Problem?
* The problem is vaccine hesitancy, where individuals are reluctant or unwilling to receive vaccines, contributing to lower vaccination rates and potential outbreaks of preventable diseases. - How is the Problem Framed?
* The problem is often framed as a public health risk, emphasizing the potential harm to both individuals and communities. Terms like “vaccine hesitancy” and “vaccine refusal” are used to characterize the behavior. - What Assumptions Underlie this Framing?
* Assumptions include the belief in the efficacy and safety of vaccines for preventing diseases. The framing assumes that vaccine hesitancy is primarily due to misinformation, lack of education, or mistrust in the healthcare system. - What Effects are Produced by this Framing?
* Policies and interventions may focus on public health campaigns, education, and improving trust within the healthcare system. There may be efforts to combat misinformation and promote the benefits of vaccination. The framing may lead to the implementation of mandatory vaccination policies in some contexts. - What is Left Unproblematic? Where are the Silences? Can the Problem be Thought About Differently?
* The framing may leave unexamined broader systemic issues related to healthcare access, socioeconomic disparities, or historical mistrust in medical institutions. It may not fully address the complexities of individual decision-making or the influence of social networks. Alternative framings might consider vaccine hesitancy as a symptom of broader societal challenges rather than an isolated issue. - How/Where has this Representation of the Problem been Produced, Disseminated, and Defended? How has it been (or could it be) Questioned, Disrupted, and Replaced?
* The representation has been produced by public health authorities, medical professionals, and vaccine advocacy groups.
* It has been disseminated through public health campaigns, media, and educational materials.
* Defences of this representation come from public health officials and organizations emphasizing the importance of vaccination for community immunity.
* Challenges may come from medical sceptics, vaccine-critical groups, or researchers exploring the social determinants of vaccine hesitancy.
* Efforts to disrupt this framing might involve advocating for policies that address healthcare disparities, social commentary or historical mistrust.
Explain the case study of PEPFAR for AIDS prevention (Parkhurst, 2012).
PEPFAR was the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
Promoted ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful, Condom) as an “evidence-based” prevention program
Evidence is defined by framing processes, with competing interpretations
2 sides of the debate:
1) Moral absolutists: This group believes in a single, correct sexual behavior (usually abstinence) and views condoms as promoting risky behavior. They think ABC worked because it promoted abstinence and fidelity.
2) Freedom primacists: This group prioritizes individual choice over sexual behavior and sees condoms as enabling safe sex. They think ABC worked because it gave Ugandans choices and options.
Both sides can interpret the evidence to fit their beliefs:
- Moral Absolutists: They focus on the theoretical effectiveness of abstinence, meaning its potential to completely prevent HIV if perfectly followed. They might downplay evidence on how difficult it is for people to abstain perfectly in real life.
- Freedom Primacists: They focus on the clinical efficacy of condoms, meaning the percentage of protection they offer in ideal situations. They might overlook evidence on the challenges of getting people to use condoms consistently and correctly. Say abstinence promotion does not work as per evidence.
Sides frame issue differently to fit in to their beliefs:
- Moral Absolutists: They frame the “B” element (Be faithful) as fidelity, which aligns with their belief in one correct sexual behavior (often marriage). They might avoid terms like “partner reduction”.
- Freedom Primacists: They frame condom use as enabling responsible choices, meaning reducing harm from sexual activity. They might downplay the moral implications some might associate with condom use.
What is old institutionalism vs new institutionalism?
Old institutionalism: emphasises the formal aspects of institutions. They are seen as stable and enduring, shaping political behaviour thorugh established rules and structures.
New institutionalism: expands the study of institutions to include informal rules, norms and cognitive structures. Pays attention to the role of institutions in shaping individual and collective behaviour.
What are 3 key features of institutional analysis?
- Veto points/players: institutional arrangements dictate what actors can block decisions (veto points) and what actors are involved (veto players). Limit what is possible for policy change
- Path dependency: past choices shape or limit future outcomes so it is hard to change once set. Incremental changes are typically easier.
- Institutional logic: institutions have their own logic about what is right, and which goals to achieve and the ways to go about achieving them. Can shape behaviours of individuals working in them regardless of their personal views.
