Policy Problems: Symbols Flashcards
What is a symbol?
Anything that stands for something else
How does the meaning of symbols change?
Depending on how they’re used and interpretations of them
How can symbols be a policy problem?
Symbolism can be used to oversimplify/present an issue ambiguously but sometimes we can get lost in symbolism
How can we identify the authentic nature of a problem without getting lost in symbolism?
Through good policy analysis
Why does it matter how we frame a policy problem?
It can determine whether the public/decision makers will support our proposal
What are 2 ways symbolism can make the public/decision-makers support our proposals?
- Emotional Impact
- Makes complex topics relatable
What concept of symbolism is a fundamental part of politics/policy-making?
Symbolic Representation
What are the 3 subsets of Symbolic representation?
- Symbolic actions/images
- Symbolic objects
- Symbolic people
What can be used to strategically present a problem so that it is compelling to the audience?
Symbols
What are 3 symbolic devices used in political discussions?
- Narrative Stories
- Synecdoche
- Metaphor
What are narrative stories?
A story of struggle between ‘good’ and ‘evil’, with conflict and resolution
Define Synecdoche
A small part of a policy problem being used to represent the whole
Define Metaphor (in terms of policy)
Whenone policy problem is compared to another
Give an example of a policy metaphor?
“the war on drugs/terror, etc.”
What is a narrative story of change?
Story of decline or rising; how has an issue progressed? Where is society headed?
What is a narrative story of power?
Story of helplessness or control; who is responsible for a problem? Who are the victims?
What do narrative stories of power assure us?
That we can exercise control over a complex problem
How do we use synecdoche in policy?
By using specific incidents to reflect a larger problem
What are horror story synecdoche’s?
The usage of one terrible event as grounds for large scale policy change
What symbolic device helps to make a problem concrete, relatable, and a manageable size?
Synecdoche
What do metaphors imply in policy?
That A is like B so we should address A by doing what we would to solve B
Explain the living organism metaphor?
Idea that social institutions have lives of their own and that as a whole they are greater than the sum of its parts
Explain the natural laws metaphor
Presenting things as natural to justify action/inaction (if an issue is natural, then human interference might be seen as futile/unwarranted)
What is an example of the natural laws metaphor?
“Life cycle” of a policy or social institution
Explain the machinery metaphor
story of imbalance where something has to be taken from one and given to another to achieve greater balance
Give an example of the machinery metaphor
justifying cuts to health care because of a need to balance the budget
Explain wedges metaphor
Implications that something is the first move towards a larger change with unwanted consequences; a small beginning can have huge leverage
Give an example of a wedges metaphor
Legalization of cannabis as the first step towards legalization of all drugs
Explain the slippery slope metaphor
saying that something itself isn’t bad but that we shouldn’t permit it because it might be allowed in the type of circumstances we don’t approve
Give an example of the slippery slope metaphor
If we allow for medical assistance in dieing for terminally ill patients, others may see it as an alternative solution
Explain the disease metaphor
Ideas and issues “spread” or “infect”
Give an example of the disease metaphor
“the opioid crisis is a cancer in our society”
How can symbols be ambiguous?
they can mean more than one thing at the same time (different things to different people)
How can symbol ambiguity be a good thing in policy?
it can unite people who would benefit from the same policy for different reasons (& appease “both sides”)
How do politicians & stakeholders shape our understanding of particular policy problems via symbolism?
by strategically using story & language
