Municipal Policy Agenda Setting Flashcards
2.6 MUNICIPAL POLICY AGENDA-SETTING - ITSIR CRINL
Refers to process where local government identifies public ISSUES that require action
It involves the TRANSFORMATION of societal concerns into specific policy problems that have to be addressed through decisions and resource allocation
Agenda setting is a SELECTIVE phase in policy making as government has limited capacity, time and resources
Key aspects of municipal agenda-setting include the IDENTIFICATION of problems, structuring and prioritizing these issues, mobilizing support, and pressuring decision-makers to take appropriate action
starts when an concerns are RAISED by stakeholders in society about the actions or inactions of the government
These CONCERNS are then framed as problems that require policy interventions.
determines which issues RECIEVE attention from policymakers
It involves formal and INFORMAL methods of gaining access to the policy-making process and influencing its outcomes.
NOT all public issues automatically make it onto the policy agenda
The agenda itself is a LIST of items to be addressed in Council meetings,
and the higher an issue is placed, the greater the likelihood it will be discussed and acted upon
2.5.1 TYPES OF POLICY AGENDAS RARIJ ADWN
Municipal policy agendas can be classified into two main types
SYSTEMIC AGENDA
refers to issues that are RECOGNIZED by the policy community as worthy of public attention or action.
These AFFECT many people or specific interest groups hence they are perceived as important
not every issue always RESULTS in concrete policies or official actions by government authorities.
In South Africa, for instance, topics like INFRASTRUCTURE development, and labor relations are frequently discussed because they impact groups like labor unions, businesses, and consumers.
These issues are within the JURISDICTION of local governments, but even if they are acknowledged and discussed, they don’t always result in immediate policies or concrete actions.
INSTITUTIONAL AGENDA SETTING
This refers to problems that government institutions decide to ACT upon.
When an issue is on the institutional agenda, it implies that a DECISION has been made, and resources will be allocated for its resolution.
Issues like WATER supply shortages or housing crises are likely to reach this level when there is sufficient pressure from stakeholders.
NEW items can be the result of crises or national events e.g COVID
2.5.2 ROLE-PLAYERS IN MUNICIPAL AGENDA-SETTING - PAARCWIM
POLITICAL Office Bearers such as the executive mayor or mayoral committee
draw ATTENTION to key issues by using public platforms, including speeches and conferences,
When an issue garners mass public support, it is more likely to enter the formal agenda-setting phase.
APPOINTED Officials
Municipal officials play a role in determining which issues REACH the policy agenda.
These officials assess factors such as urgency and budgetary constraints before deciding whether an issue should be raised at the Council level.
COURTS of Law
Courts contribute to agenda-setting by identifying WEAKNESSES in existing policies.
Through their rulings, they can bring attention to issues that require policy reform, making them important players in the agenda-setting process.
INTEREST Groups
These groups, often representing MARGINALIZED or specific segments of society through Protests, tax boycotts, and meetings with municipal representatives
2.5.3 Approaches to municipal agenda-setting - LIEWMT
Municipal agenda-setting approaches can vary depending on the political ideology and resources of the local government
- LET it Happen (Passive Role)
> In this approach, the Council does not INTERVENE in societal issues unless absolutely necessary.
> This laissez-faire approach is less effective for addressing the needs of marginalized communities.
- ENCOURAGE it to Happen (Moderate Role)
> Here, the Council plays a more active role by assisting WEAKER groups in problem identification and definition.
> However, this approach may sometimes appear biased, as the Council may seem to favor certain groups over others.
- MAKE it Happen (Active Role)
> the Council TAKES the initiative to define problems, set priorities, and establish goals.
> This method allows the Council to shape the policy agenda according to its strategic objectives.
THE APPLICABLE APPROACH IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT
- Proactive Addressing of Urgent Community Needs
South Africa faces severe socio-economic challenges, including poverty, unemployment, and poor service delivery, particularly in historically marginalized communities.
The “Make it Happen” approach allows municipal councils to actively define and prioritize these urgent issues, rather than waiting for public outcry or crises to force action.
This approach enables municipalities to take the lead in addressing critical issues such as water and sanitation shortages, housing backlogs, and infrastructure development, which require immediate attention
Redressing Inequality and Historical Injustices
Due to South Africa’s history of apartheid, many communities remain underdeveloped, lacking access to essential services.
The “Make it Happen” approach is crucial for reversing these
inequalities.
It enables municipalities to take deliberate actions aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of previously disadvantaged groups by initiating policies that tackle inequality, stimulate economic development, and provide equal access to services
Preventing Public Unrest and Service Delivery Protests
South Africa has a history of public protests over poor service delivery.
The “Make it Happen” approach can help mitigate such unrest by proactively addressing the root causes of dissatisfaction.
By taking the initiative to recognize problems early and acting before they reach a crisis point, municipalities can avoid the escalation of issues into mass protests or social unrest, which are common responses to government inaction
Limited Financial Resources and Strategic Prioritization: Municipalities often face significant budget constraints, which means they cannot address all issues at once.
The “Make it Happen” approach allows councils to strategically prioritize the most pressing problems and allocate resources accordingly.
Rather than reactively responding to community demands, municipalities can set their agenda based on a comprehensive assessment of needs, ensuring efficient use of limited resources to maximize impact
2.7 CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND EDUCATION FOR AGENDA-SETTING - OWEAV
provides citizens with OPPOTUNITY to influence decisions that directly affect their lives,
Effective civic participation hinges on WELL-informed citizens who understand their influence on political processes
ENGAGED citizens help ensure that government actions align with public interests and prevents corrupt decisions
well-informed hold officials ACCOUNTABLE as they are aware of what they should expect from them
However it is important to note that civic education and VOTER education serve different roles in empowering citizens.
2.7.1 Civic education and voter education - UCWECI
Civic education aims to foster a broad UNDERSTANDING of democratic values and citizens’ roles,
involves CONTINUOS engagement with governance while voter education usually takes places towards elections
Civic education targets the WHOLE society, while voter education only focuses on those eligible to vote.
voter education focuses specifically on the ELECTORAL process and voter responsibilities.
It is often CAMPAIGN-driven educating voters about technicalities of elections
South Africa’s INDEPENDENT Electoral Commission (IEC) plays a vital role in promoting voter education
2.7.2 Components of a relevant civic education - IDIDRS
Civic Knowledge AKA civic literacy
ensures that citizens are INFORMED about their political, social, and economic rights
ensures that citizens understand the DEMOCRATIC system, the functions of various government branches, and their role within it.
Civic Skills : Intellectual and participatory
Intellectual and participatory skills enable citizens to INFLUENCE public policy.
Intellectual Skills involve the ability necessary to understand DISCUSS public issues
Participatory skills focus on citizens’ ability to effectively engage with others and influence the public sphere. e.g lobbying or participating in community meetings.
Civic Disposition
Dispositions REFLECT democratic attitudes such as respect for the rule of law.
Refers attitudes that SUPPORT an engaged and respectful democratic community
2.7.3 Forms of civic education - GVEMCD
Government Programs: Initiatives driven by government bodies like electoral commissions can promote widespread civic awareness.
Voter Education Initiatives: Targeting eligible voters, these programs prepare citizens specifically for electoral participation.
Educational Curricula: Schools and universities can incorporate civics into their curricula, teaching young people about governance, rights, and responsibilities early on.
Media Campaigns: Radio, television, and social media can broadcast information widely, engaging citizens across demographic groups.
Community Engagement Programs: Local NGOs and civil society organizations can organize events, dialogues, and debates to promote civic education at a grassroots level.
Digital Tools: Social media and online platforms offer new avenues for interactive civic education, enabling wider reach and engagement.
2.8 PROCESS OF MUNICIPAL AGENDA-SETTING
2.8.1 Issue and problem identification - LIFCW
The first step in municipal agenda-setting is identifying issues that should be addressed by LOCAL government
This INFLUENCED by political power and public perception.
many FACTORS determine their inclusion on the agenda and not all issues in society become policy problems
involves CONVERTING societal conditions into policy problems.
the questions that guide this transformation include: WHO sees it as a problem? Why should it be a societal issue? And who should address it?
factors that can influence an issue’s appearance or removal from the municipal policy agenda - CRMPPF
- Crisis and emergencies - A crisis can rapidly propel a new issue onto to the forefront e.g COVID
- resource constraints - some issues may be removed or delayed from the agenda due to system overload, where too many demands are placed on the government, or when resources are limited - governments have to prioritize issues based on available resources, leading to the removal or postponement of less urgent matters
- Media and Public Visibility - Issues that are highly visible in the media, including television or social media, can make a significant impact. Extensive media coverage can create public pressure, forcing the government to address the issue e.g water / Eskom
- Political Leaders and Power Brokers - Influential political figures, including ministers, may use their position to bring attention to specific issues. When these leaders champion a cause, they can ensure it remains on their department’s or the municipality’s agenda.
- Public Interest and Scope of Impact - Issues that affect a large proportion of society or have significant emotional or human interest (such as child abuse or animal cruelty) are more likely to be brought to the policy agenda - problems that evoke an emotional response can receive more attention than others
*Fashionable issues - Some issues become “fashionable” due to global or national trends, such as environmental conservation or renewable energy. These issues may be promoted due to their popularity or alignment with current political trends, even if they weren’t previously a priority
2.8.2 Problem definition and structuring - NDAFP
Once an issue is identified, the next step is defining and structuring the problem.
This involves clarifying the NATURE of the issue, identifying its causes, and determining the appropriate level of government intervention.
DICTATES the policy response and the effectiveness of solutions.
rather than merely ALLEVIATING its symptoms, Policymakers must ensure that they address the root causes of a problem
For instance, if civil unrest is caused by inadequate service delivery, addressing only the unrest without improving services will lead to recurring conflicts. Policymakers, therefore, must carefully map out objectives and synthesize conflicting views to develop a clear and actionable policy.
requires a FOCUS on cause-and-effect relationships.
“the way a problem is structured determines the PROCESS of policy-making as well as the contents of the policy”
2.8.3 Policy prioritization - PRIIWE
After defining and structuring the problem, the final step is prioritizing it on the municipal agenda.
Policy prioritization is essential, especially in resource-constrained environments where governments must allocate limited to address the most pressing needs
Several factors influence policy prioritization:
- relative POWER of policy-makers and stakeholders
- RESOURCES available to address the issue
- current IDEOLOGY of government
- the matter is of particular IMPORTANCE (civil war in neighbouring countries resulting in a refugee problem)-
the matter has a WIDE impact on society and does not affect only one segment (crime and corruption in the public sector).
E.G For example, a violent protest over inadequate housing might be prioritized due to its potential to destabilize the community, even if long-standing issues like unemployment remain lower on the agenda. The emotional and political weight of an issue often determines its importance, as policymakers are more likely to respond to problems that resonate deeply with the public.
- EMOTIONAL impact on society (for example violence against women and children)
