Policy Problems: Symbols

Question 1

What is a symbol?

Answer 1

Anything that stands for something else

Question 2

How does the meaning of symbols change?

Answer 2

Depending on how they’re used and interpretations of them

Question 3

How can symbols be a policy problem?

Answer 3

Symbolism can be used to oversimplify/present an issue ambiguously but sometimes we can get lost in symbolism

Question 4

How can we identify the authentic nature of a problem without getting lost in symbolism?

Answer 4

Through good policy analysis

Question 5

Why does it matter how we frame a policy problem?

Answer 5

It can determine whether the public/decision makers will support our proposal

Question 6

What are 2 ways symbolism can make the public/decision-makers support our proposals?

Answer 6

1. Emotional Impact
2. Makes complex topics relatable

Question 7

What concept of symbolism is a fundamental part of politics/policy-making?

Answer 7

Symbolic Representation

Question 8

What are the 3 subsets of Symbolic representation?

Answer 8

1. Symbolic actions/images
2. Symbolic objects
3. Symbolic people

Question 9

What can be used to strategically present a problem so that it is compelling to the audience?

Answer 9

Symbols

Question 10

What are 3 symbolic devices used in political discussions?

Answer 10

1. Narrative Stories
2. Synecdoche
3. Metaphor

Question 11

What are narrative stories?

Answer 11

A story of struggle between ‘good’ and ‘evil’, with conflict and resolution

Question 12

Define Synecdoche

Answer 12

A small part of a policy problem being used to represent the whole

Question 13

Define Metaphor (in terms of policy)

Answer 13

Whenone policy problem is compared to another

Question 14

Give an example of a policy metaphor?

Answer 14

“the war on drugs/terror, etc.”

Question 15

What is a narrative story of change?

Answer 15

Story of decline or rising; how has an issue progressed? Where is society headed?

Question 16

What is a narrative story of power?

Answer 16

Story of helplessness or control; who is responsible for a problem? Who are the victims?

Question 17

What do narrative stories of power assure us?

Answer 17

That we can exercise control over a complex problem

Question 18

How do we use synecdoche in policy?

Answer 18

By using specific incidents to reflect a larger problem

Question 19

What are horror story synecdoche’s?

Answer 19

The usage of one terrible event as grounds for large scale policy change

Question 20

What symbolic device helps to make a problem concrete, relatable, and a manageable size?

Answer 20

Synecdoche

Question 21

What do metaphors imply in policy?

Answer 21

That A is like B so we should address A by doing what we would to solve B

Question 22

Explain the living organism metaphor?

Answer 22

Idea that social institutions have lives of their own and that as a whole they are greater than the sum of its parts

Question 23

Explain the natural laws metaphor

Answer 23

Presenting things as natural to justify action/inaction (if an issue is natural, then human interference might be seen as futile/unwarranted)

Question 24

What is an example of the natural laws metaphor?

Answer 24

“Life cycle” of a policy or social institution

Question 25

Explain the machinery metaphor

Answer 25

story of imbalance where something has to be taken from one and given to another to achieve greater balance

Question 26

Give an example of the machinery metaphor

Answer 26

justifying cuts to health care because of a need to balance the budget

Question 27

Explain wedges metaphor

Answer 27

Implications that something is the first move towards a larger change with unwanted consequences; a small beginning can have huge leverage

Question 28

Give an example of a wedges metaphor

Answer 28

Legalization of cannabis as the first step towards legalization of all drugs

Question 29

Explain the slippery slope metaphor

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Give an example of the slippery slope metaphor

Answer 30

If we allow for medical assistance in dieing for terminally ill patients, others may see it as an alternative solution

Question 31

Explain the disease metaphor

Answer 31

Ideas and issues "spread" or "infect"

Question 32

Give an example of the disease metaphor

Answer 32

"the opioid crisis is a cancer in our society"

Question 33

How can symbols be ambiguous?

Answer 33

they can mean more than one thing at the same time (different things to different people)

Question 34

How can symbol ambiguity be a good thing in policy?

Answer 34

it can unite people who would benefit from the same policy for different reasons (& appease "both sides")

Question 35

How do politicians & stakeholders shape our understanding of particular policy problems via symbolism?

Answer 35

by strategically using story & language