week 5 - International Agenda and Domestic Policy Making

Question 1

What are the distinct impacts of international agenda influence of domestic policy-making? (5)

Answer 1

1. Economic, social, and political pressures from abroad -
   domestic policymaking process is no longer a solely
   internal affair
2. Economic globalization + global interdependence
   among states
3. Many policy issues become borderless
   (environmental protection, drug regulation, etc.)
4. External factors start influencing domestic policymaking
5. Problems that are unique to one country are rare

Question 2

What Public policy becomes nowadays?

Answer 2

Public policy becomes increasingly global

Question 3

Why policy-makers look to the international context?

Answer 3

to inform their decision-making

Question 4

What costs did Global communication technologies lessen?

Answer 4

Global communication technologies lessened the costs
associated with disseminating ideas and policy
models across the world

Question 5

How policymakers attempt to deal with the problem in the context of internalization?

Answer 5

by looking for similar examples elsewhere

Question 6

Pinpoint 2 benefits of internationalization for domestic policymakers?

Answer 6

Policy-makers in cities, regional governments, and
nations can learn from their counterparts elsewhere

Policy-makers can draw lessons that will help them
deal better with their own problems

Question 7

What is the difference b-n traditional and globalized approach of managing public policy?

Answer 7

Traditional approach –focus on the nation-state,
actions of government and other societal actors
domestically

Globalized environment – politics is not limited to one
state

Question 8

What is one of the characteristic of Regional and international agreements (EU, NAFTA, Mercosur, ASEAN) for public policy domain?

Answer 8

Regional and international agreements (EU, NAFTA,
Mercosur, ASEAN) are infringing on the sovereignty
of states.

Question 9

Globalization and its impact on the nation-state –

subject of great scholarly debate. Describe 2 opposing views of globalization impact on state governance?

Answer 9

View 1: Globalization diminishes the ability of states to
independently define and manage policy.

View 2: Globalization does not diminish ability of state
to govern. State is still the only actor that can make
international agreements on behalf of its population.

Question 10

Some say that globalization erodes the ability of nation-state to make independent decision-making. Describe the characteristic features which support this view?

Answer 10

1) Influence of globalization on the role of the state
At home: Privatization and contracting out
Abroad: Multitude of int’l organizations

2) Shared sovereignty (EU, EEU, Mercosur, etc.)

3) Some global issues can be addressed effectively at a
supra- or international level. Globalization diminishes the autonomy and centrality of the state

Question 11

Describe 3 ways in which globalization affects state systems?

Answer 11

1) Global ecological changes, integrated global economy, terrorism, human trafficking make policy design an increasingly a shared activity where multiple national systems interact with each other.
States have to cooperate and interact.

2) Functional integration, where states jointly generate
shared solutions to policy issues, with or without creating binding legal and policy instruments.
States create similar policy approach.

3) Globalization allows influence by international
organizations (OECD, IMF, World Bank, etc.) to
influence national policy design.
Countries adjust domestic policies in return of
[perceived] benefits.

Question 12

On what variable depends on how countries may respond to external economic pressures?

Answer 12

Countries may respond to external economic pressures
differently – depending on their political institutions
(“strong” and “weak”)

Question 13

what is the difference in reaction between professional bureacracies and more decentralized public administration? Provide country examples.

Answer 13

Countries with long traditions of professional
bureaucracies (France, Japan) will react differently
than countries with more decentralized tradition of
public administration (UK, US)

Question 14

What are the influences of Increased international trade on domestic economy? (4)

Answer 14

1. Increased international trade – increases economy’s
   exposure to world market pressures (thus, sensitivity
   of the domestic economy to international price
   trends and shocks).
2. Internationalization – economic shocks from abroad
   will be translated into the domestic economy
3. Economic shocks from abroad may generate political
   crises; often reshape national policies and
   institutions fundamentally
4. As internationalization progresses, the economy will
   become more sensitive to world market price trends
   and shocks

Question 15

as internationalization makes the economy more vulnerable to externally generated economic shocks. What is the likelihood impact of this process?

Answer 15

The likelihood of major domestic policy and
institutional reforms will grow as internationalization makes the economy more vulnerable to externally generated economic shocks

Question 16

what Preexisting domestic institutions can do to resist the influence of intern-n?

Answer 16

Preexisting domestic institutions may allow actors to
resist the pressures generated by internationalization.
Institutions may enable actors who would lose from
internationalization to halt any such change.

Question 17

What is the disctinct feature of Countries with central planning or heavy state intervention in terms of internalization?

Answer 17

Countries with central planning or heavy state
intervention – government policies and institutions
may serve as a “wall” between the domestic
economy and the international one

Question 18

What could be the impact of relative price changes in domestic economy?

Answer 18

Relative price changes may occur, but they may not be

felt domestically because of the state’s intervention

Question 19

What the common characterization on how authoritarian and stable political system reacts to internalization effects?

Answer 19

The more authoritarian and stable a political system is,
the longer its leaders can resist responding to the
pressures created by internationalization

Question 20

Countries’ perception of policy lessons:

Define exceptionalism?

Answer 20

Because of a distinctive history, culture, and values, practices of some countries may not apply in others

Question 21

Countries’ perception of policy lessons:

Define Receptiveness?

Answer 21

Transitional countries often look for examples from abroad

Question 22

Countries’ perception of policy lessons:

Define Policy transfer?

Answer 22

Knowledge about policies, administrative
arrangements, institutions, and ideas from one
political system (past or present) is used in another
political system

Question 23

Define 2 featues of Policy Copying?

Answer 23

Policy emulation

Synthesis and hybridization

Question 24

Countries’ perception of policy lessons:

Define features of Lesson-drawing?

Answer 24

1. May or may not lead to policy transfer
2. Policy elsewhere may be evaluated negatively, hence,
3. no change is made
4. Necessary but not sufficient for policy transfer
5. Both negative and positive lessons provide valuable insights for policymaking

Question 25

How can Governments influence the constraints imposed by the international economy?

Answer 25

Governments can influence the constraints imposed by
the international economy both through unilateral
and multilateral action.

Question 26

What is the feature of Openness approach in how domestic policy reacts to internationalization ? Provide country examples

Answer 26

Openness – government policy focuses on improving
the competitive advantage of a country, thus
promoting rapid adaptation to internationalization.
(Japan, South Korea, Singapore)