Theories, Frameworks and Models in Social Policies Flashcards
Defines our analysis and position of social policies on the historical,
socio-cultural, political, economic and environmental context at various levels –
local, national, even international.
Framework
It can also be very useful in understanding the prevailing relations between
political interplay in the country, social classes, gender and other issues that affects
the welfare of the people, and effective for planning strategies for change.
Framework
It is the fundamental differentiating factor among models.
Analytical Framework
Represents a clearly articulated, logical, distinct analysis and interpretation of, and
approach to a given phenomenon.
Model
- Focuses on traditional organization of government
- Describes duties and arrangements of bureaus and departments
Institutional Model
focused on institutional structures, organization, duties and function, without
investigating their impact on public policy
Institutional Model
According to Anderson (1997), approached from the perspective of this theory, public policy can be regarded as reflecting the values and preferences of a governing elite.
Elite Theory
Negative bias against participatory democracy, particularly the participation
of the masses in governance, since the model’s main argument is that it is
not the people or the “masses” who determine public policy through their
demands and action.
Elite Theory
Policies flow “downward” from elites to masses; they do not arise from
mass demands.
Elite Theory
in the words of Marx is derogatorily labeled as “instrument of the State for the alienation of the masses”.
bureaucracy of government officials
and agencies
Dye and Zeigler book entitled
The Irony of Democracy
Dye and Zeigler, in The Irony of Democracy, (1975) summarizes the elite theory:
The society is divided into the few who have power (elite) and the many who do not have (masses). Only the elite allocate values for society; the masses do not decide public policy.
The elite are not typical of the masses. They are drawn disproportionately from the upper socioeconomic strata of the society.
The movement of the non-elites to elite position must be slow and continuous to
maintain stability and prevent revolution. Only non-elite who have accepted the
basic elite consensus can be admitted to governing circles.
The elite share a consensus on the basic values of the social system and the
preservation of the status quo (i.e., private property, limited government, and
individual liberty.
Public policy does not reflect the demands of the masses but rather the prevailing values of the elite. Changes in policy will be incremental rather than evolutionary.
The active elite are subject to relatively little direct influence from apathetic
masses.
heavily criticized for prioritizing the interests of multinational corporations over those of local communities and the environment
to attract foreign investment
Philippine Mining Act of 1995
Public policy results from a system of forces and pressures acting on and reacting
to one another
Also known as equilibrium theory
Group Model
Emphasizes the role of groups in influencing policy outcomes
Individuals with common interests band together to press their demands (formal
or informally) on government. Individuals are important in politics only when
they act as part of or on behalf of group interests
Group Model
Agencies may be captured by the groups they are meant to regulate, and
administrators become increasingly unable to distinguish between policies that
will benefit the general public and policies that will benefit the groups being
regulated
Group Model
The task of the political system is to
1) establish the rules of the game
2) arrange compromises and balance interests
3) enact compromises in public policy
4) enforce these compromises
Influence is determined by numbers, wealth, and organizational strength,
leadership, access to decision makers and internal cohesion
Policy makers respond to group pressure by bargaining, negotiating, and
compromising among competing demands
Group Model
- transport operators, drivers, commuters, and environmental advocates
- aims to address concerns about the age, safety, and environmental impact of traditional jeepneys
- operators are required to consolidate into transport corporations or cooperatives, modernize their vehicles, and comply with new safety and emissions standards
- cost of modernization is too high
- government’s subsidies are insufficient
- program will lead to job losses
- higher transportation costs for commuters
- Government response: extending the deadline for compliance and increasing subsidies for operators
Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) (DOTR)
- Relies on information theory concepts such as input, output, and feedback.
- Sees the policy process as cyclical.
- Asks, “what are the significant variables and patterns in the public policy-making
system?” - Public policy is viewed as the response of the political system to forces brought
to bear on it from the outside environment.
Systems Model
The environment surrounds the political system.
physical: natural resources, climate, topography
demographic: population size, age, and distribution, and location
political: ideology, culture, social structure, economy, and technology
Systems Model
are brought to it by persons or groups in response to real or perceived
environmental conditions, for government action.
Demand
(part of Systems Model)