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Introduction to Political Science > TASK 8 - PUBLIC POLICY + BUREAUCRACY > Flashcards

TASK 8 - PUBLIC POLICY + BUREAUCRACY Flashcards

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1
Q
  1. POLICY. definition
A

consists of the ‘outputs’ of the pol process, meaning the impact of the gov on society and its ability to make things better/worse

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2
Q
  1. THE POLICY PROCESS. Name 2 reasons for it being a process
A
  1. involves a series of linked actions or events
    - germination of ideas
    - initiation of proposals
    - analysis and evaluation
    - making formal decisions
    - implementation
  2. distinguishes the ‘how’ of gov from the ‘what’ of gov
    - the way policy is made
    - contentwise
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3
Q
  1. THEORIES OF DECISION-MAKING. name the 4
A
  1. rational actor model
  2. incremental model
  3. bureaucratic organization model
  4. belief system model
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4
Q

3.1 rational actor model. procedures

A

-> emphasises human rationality
1. nature of problem identified
2. objective/goal is selected
3. available means of achieving objective are evaluated
- effectiveness
- reliability
- costs
4. decision is made: what is most likely to secure the goal?

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5
Q

3.1 rational actor model: assumptions + characteristics

A
  • humans are able to pursue goals rationally and consistently
  • utility is homogeneous
  • constructed on econ theories (UTILITARIANISM)
  • stresses the self-interest pursuit of material satisfaction
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6
Q

3.1 rational actor model: drawbacks

A
  • more easily applied to individuals, not groups
  • decisions made on basis of inadequate and inaccurate info
    bounded rationality
    not possible to assess all possible courses of action
  • fail to take into account psychological, emotional, cultural and social factorsq
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7
Q

3.2 incremental model. definition and characteristics

A

-> incrementalism: portrayed as the main alternative to rational decision-making

  • decisions made on the basis of inadequate info and low levels of understanding
  • policy-making as continuous process
  • normative and descriptive
  • allows for flexibility and divergent views
    well suited in pluralist democracies
    compromise
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8
Q

3.2 incremental model: drawbacks

A
  • critiziced as conservative
  • justifies bias against innovation
  • more concern for day-to-day problems
    no long term view
  • sheds little light on radical pol decisions
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9
Q
  1. MIXED SCANNING
A

-> bridge btw rational and incrementalist approach

decision making in 2 phases:
1. evaluation of all available policy options
2. details of selected policy are reviewed

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10
Q

3.3 bureaucratic organization models

A

-> highlight degree to which process influences product

two contrasting models:
1. organizational process
2. bureaucratic politics

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11
Q

3.3 bureaucratic org models: organizational process

A

-> highlights impact on decisions of the values, assumptions and regular patterns of behavior found in any large org
- reflect entrenched culture of gov making them

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12
Q

3.3 bureaucratic org models: bureaucratic politics

A

-> emphasizes impact on decisions of bargaining btw personnel and agencies pursuing diff interests

  • dismissed idea of state as monolith united around single view
  • decisions arise from arena of contest in which balance of advantage is const shifting
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13
Q

3.3 bureaucratic org model: drawbacks

A
  • org process allows little scope for pol leadership to be imposed from above
  • simplistic idea: pol actors dont hold views only based on own position and their orgs
  • fail to give weight to external pressures emanating from broader contexts
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14
Q

3.4 belief system model

A

-> emphasis on role of beliefs and ideology. is behavior structured by perception

  • what ppl see and understand is what their concept allow them to
  • entrenched beliefs (unconscious)
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15
Q

3.4 belief system model: approaches to decision-making

A

-> ‘policy subsystems’: colllection of ppl who contribute to influencing policy in a particular area

  • politicians
  • civil servants
  • interest groups
  • researchers
  • academics…

EPISTEMIC COMMUNITY

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16
Q

3.4 belief system model: within policy subsystems emerge comprising collections of ppl sharing same beliefs. these operate in 3 levels…

A
  1. deep core beliefs
    - fundamental moral/philosophical principles
    - resistant to change
  2. near-core beliefs
    - policy preferences
    - more disagreement and flexibility
  3. secondary beliefs
    - views abt implementation/application
    - more disagreement and flexibility
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17
Q
  1. STAGES OF THE POLICY PROCESS. Name the 4
A
  1. policy initiation
  2. policy formulation
  3. policy implementation
  4. policy evaluation
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18
Q

4.1 policy initiation

A
  • decision to make the decision
  • perception that there is a problem to be solved
  • structures subsequent debate, and decision-making
  • sets pol agenda
  • can originate in any part of pol system
    above: leaders, cabinets, agencies…
    below: public opinion, mass media, pol parties, interest groups…
    academics: develop core values + theories
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19
Q

4.2 policy formulation

A
  • process of detailed elaboration to develop systematic policy proposals
  • what, when, how
  • entails: translation of broad proposals into specific recomms + filtering out proposals
  • stages
    1. decisions about how to decide
    2. issue definition and forecasting: scope for reinterpretation
    3. setting objectives/priorities
    4. analysis and review of policy options
  • reducement of actors involved
    -> shaped by selective group!
20
Q

4.2 policy formulation. distinction amongst systems (2)

A
  1. whether formulation is based on consultation or imposition
  2. whether govs engage in long-term planning or day-to-day basis
21
Q

4.3 policy implementation

A
  • decisions on whether policy outcomes match policy intentions
  • conditions for ‘perfect’ implementation:
    1. unitary adm system
    2. perfect obedience/control
    3. perfect info, communication, coordination
    4. suff time for adm resources to be mobilized
  • tendency for bottom-up tradition (more street-understanding)
  • tendency for top-down tradition (stresses uniformity and control)
22
Q

4.3 policy implementation. drawbacks

A
  • dangers of flexibility in application
  • executors might also be interested in protecting their career and interests
  • absence of consumer pressure from below
  • gov often monopoly supplier
23
Q

4.4 policy evaluation

A
  • can smth be improved?
  • decisions made by maintenance, succession or termination
  • addresses issues linked to appropriateness/effectiveness
  • cost-benefit analysis
  • not many govs fund it properly
24
Q
  1. ROLE OF BUREAUCRACY. main function
A

-> main: policy implementation

  • execution and enforcement of laws made by legislature and policies decided by executive
25
Q
  1. role of bureaucracy. they exert considerable influence on policy processes fulfilling 4 key functions
A
  1. carrying out administration
  2. offering policy advice
  3. articulating and aggregating interests
  4. mantaining pol stability
26
Q

5.1 carrying out administration

A
  • administer govs business
  • bureaucracy = administration
  • ranges from:
    1. implementation of welfare/social security programmes
    2. the regulation of the econ, granting of licenses
    3. provision of info and advice to citizens
  • not mere functionaries
  • allowed discretion in deciding how to implement p
  • degree of power varies
  • policy advisers = ability to reshape polcies they are required to administer
27
Q

5.2 policy advice

A
  • chief source of info and advice available
  • distinguishes civil servants!
    1. top level: daily contact
    2. middle-ranking
    3. junior-ranking
  • two functions:
    1. outline pol options available to ministers
    2. review policy proposals (consequences)
  • required to be neutral
28
Q

5.2 policy advice: the reality

A
  • no diff btw making and advising on policy
  • control the flow of the info!
  • info can be reshaped to reflect the preferences of the civil service
  • politicians’ main source of specialist knowledge
29
Q

5.3 articulating interests

A
  • often help to articualte or aggregate interests
  • brought into contact w interest groups through implementation tasks
  • increased bc of corporatist tendencies
  • clientelism: pos and neg
    helps mantain consensus
    may interfere w actual respons of CS
30
Q

5.4 political stability

A
  • provide focus of stability and continuity within pol systems
  • relevant in develop countries
  • depends on the status of bureaucrats as permanent and professional public servants
  • can lead to corruption
  • may breed a tendency towards arrogance or bias in favor of conservatism
31
Q
  1. the image of the bureaucracy
A

‘specialists without spirit, sensualists without heart’, since they have been largely associated w rationality

32
Q
  1. ORGANIZATION OF THE BUREAUCRACY. weber’s theory
A
  1. hierarchy
  2. specialization
  3. formal rules and regulations
  4. impersonality
  5. merit-abased system
  6. career orientation
  7. record keeping

ministries having specialized responsibilities (varies btw countris)

LACKS THE ORGANIZATION PART

33
Q
  1. why is the organization of the b relevant?
A
  1. affects degree to which public scrutiny and pol control over b can be achieved
  2. influences efficiency and effectiveness
34
Q
  1. how does the org look like?
A
  • organized on the basis of function
  • construction of departments, ministries and agencies with particualr policy areas in responsibilities
    (education, housing, defence, drug control…)
35
Q

6.1 centralism or decentralism?: centralized

A

ex communist: china, soviet union
- subject to strict party control and supervision
- institutional pluralism
- as labyrinthe mechanism for interest articulation

ex liberal democracy: france
- constructed on the basis of napoleonic model of adm
- hierarchical, centralized structure of technical expert bodies

36
Q

6.1 centralized or decentralized?: decentralized

A

ex: usa
- federal bureaucracy
- operated under formal authority of the pres as chief administrator
- diffuse and unwieldy
- no coordination
- fragmentation:
1. responsibilities of gov and b overlap
2. impact on separation of powers
3. tension btw permanent CS and much smaller number of pol appointees
pol appointees: expected to make loyalty to the adm their priority
civil servants: committed to the growth of their bureau/continuation of services and programmes

37
Q
  1. SOURCES OF BUREAUCRATIC POWER. 3 sources are identified
A
  1. strategic position of bureaucrats in the policy process
  2. logistical relationship btw b in the policy process
  3. status and expertise of b
38
Q

7.1 strategic position

A
  • policy process offers CS consid influence
  • as policy advisers
  • knowledge as power!
  • policy options can be selected, evaluated and presented as to achieve desired decision
  • preferences structure policy debate
  • preferences influence contents
  • linked btw organized interests and b
    powerful alliances!
    policy networks
39
Q

7.2 logistical relationships

A

operational relationship and distribution of advantage btw ministers and CS

theory of ministerial superiority does not reflect reality
- politicians are heavily outnumbered
- diff career structures (permanent vs temporary)
- role of ministers restricted to offering of strategic guidance

40
Q

7.3 status and expertise

A

-> stemming from expertise and specialist k
- meritocratic elite: responsibility for national interest
- emphasis on merit and achievement
- ministers often come ill-prepared and in need for advice and support
- dependance on CS to translate broad goals into practical legislative programmes

41
Q
  1. HOW CAN BUREAUCRATS BE CONTROLLED? accountable to… (4)
A
  1. political executive
  2. legislative
  3. judicial scrutiny
  4. public
42
Q

8.1 pol executive and its influence on the b

A

-> responsibility for government administration

43
Q

8.2 legislative

A
  • oversight helps ensure political accountabilty
  • effective leg control the supply of money
44
Q

8.3 judicial scrutiny

A

administrative courts and tribunals resolve conflict btw gov - bureaucracies - citizens

45
Q

8.4 public

A

formal: ombudsmand safeguards citizens
informal: media and public may damage their image

Introduction to Political Science (11 decks)

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