UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC POLICY Flashcards
UPP LECTURE REVIEW FLASHCARDS!!
What are the aims of Policy Studies?
Does Policy Studies draw from other subject areas?
- Bringing together different perspectives
- Using different concepts and theories
- Overlapping and intersecting discussions
: Political science, sociology, geography etc.
What is the purpose of Policy Studies?
Focusing on actors, interests and institutions that influence policy making.
understanding key theories and concepts to introduce to policy making.
the relationship between theory are not interdependent: true or fasle?
Theory: Aims and purposes.
- A set of analytical principles.
- Aim is to provide a simplified representation of specific processes of decision making.
Theory helps us understand complex policy realities.
false: theory and policy issues are interdependent.
Rationality: Comprehensive vs Bounded
Bonus: two main theorists for both models of rationality in policy.
comp - post-war period thinking and very rationalist and technocratic in policy making: a logical approach and can be linked to rational choice theory
bound - more realistic and pragmatic view, very rarely a universal agreement on a social issue: belief that policy makers do not have complete jurisdiction over social issues due to uncertain aims and limited info.
Herbert Simon (B) and Harold Laswell (C)
Incrementalism
Who founded this theory?
How many conditions does this theory need to meet?
Policy makers would be more likely to create incremental change to different aspects of policy instead of bigger policy decisions.
- a descriptive and prescriptive theory and supported issues of democratic legitimacy.
Charles Lindblom 1960s - a radical interpretation for political climate
There are three conditions in which this theory needs to meet in order for it to work.
Critiques/conditions of Incrementalism:
- Existing policy is satisfactory.
- The nature of the policy problem has not changed significantly.
- There have been no significant advances in the means to solve policy problems.
Evaluating the effectiveness of the policy in line with social issues.
A.P.L.I.E
Policy Cycle Model (PCM)
Laswell’s school of thought?
- Agenda Setting
- Policy Formulation
- Legitimation
- Implementation
- Evaluation
PCM shows that policy making progresses through these stages - linear.
Laswell - PCM directs knowledge towards improving a democracy.
3 CONVERGING STREAMS OF MULTIPLE STREAMS THEORY
Garbage Can model?
define MST - multiple streams theory.
- problems.
- politics.
- policies.
GCM - jumbled up problems and solutions/ not linear in policy world.
a theory in understanding and making it clear why some policies make it on to the agenda
PUNCTUATED EQUILIBRIUM
policy monopolies?
Policy can stable for long periods and then dynamic and changing periods - dependent on radical changes within social issues.
certain issue is monopolised by institution/actor and monopolies stay stable because of the strong association and the locking in of a certain solution.
FIRST FACE OF POWER: ROBERT A DAHL.
SPECTRUM OF VISIBILITY OF POWER?
formulation of an actor exerting power by getting another sctor to do something they don’t want to do.
beleived power is only about decision-making and visual experience.
VISIBLE POWER!!
SECOND FACE OF POWER: BACHRACH ABD BARATZ.
SPECTRUM OF POWER?
power exerted through distraction and dismissal of specific issues - the act of depolitisising something.
removing issues from the policy agenda.
less visible but still visible. (mid-way)
THIRD FACE OF POWER: LUKES.
SPECTRUM OF VISIBILITY?
MOST RADICAL DEPARTURE.
power conceptualised in preferences being manipulated and the power of idealogy as concept of challenging and changing one’s preferences and beliefs.
meaningfully moved debate on from decision making to real interests.
most insidious, invisible and influential as it prevents people from identifying real interests.
POWER OF IDEAS!
If actors can use ideas, they can manipulate and convince other actors to agree with their worldview.
(ex. marketing - cigarettes and female liberation and empowerment - bending social norms of ‘masculine activity’ of smoking as a form of changing conceptions towards gender and smoking)
power is exercised through ideas.
GREAT FINDINGS OF TERRY HATHAWAY:
INCLUDING: CONCEPTUALISATION, SUV MARKETING AND PLATFORM POWER.
- advantage of conceptualisation moves beyond institutions and thinks about power on a societal level.
- car manufacturers change ideas of SUV ownership and use ideas startegically to shape norms and expectations, which also has an affect on fuel economy and climate change.
- platform power - public support that is linked to a company being embedded in our life - it has created its own infrastructure in our lives (ex. amazon/prime)
STRUCTURAL POWER: CHARLES LINDBLOM
answering the question: why do governments make legislation that goes in alignment with certain businesses?
- influence that business actors have over policy outcomes without resorting to agency.
- more about a threat of business withdrawal of investment.
(ex. PPE manufacturer’s in COVID.)
INSTRUMENTAL POWER
methods of exerting instrumental power:
- more direct, more observable and more concrete.
- Trump/Vape campaign
- direct participation - lobbying - media involvement
