TASK 8 - PUBLIC POLICY + BUREAUCRACY Flashcards
1
Q
- 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
2
Q
- THE POLICY PROCESS. Name 2 reasons for it being a process
A
- involves a series of linked actions or events
- germination of ideas
- initiation of proposals
- analysis and evaluation
- making formal decisions
- implementation - distinguishes the ‘how’ of gov from the ‘what’ of gov
- the way policy is made
- contentwise
3
Q
- THEORIES OF DECISION-MAKING. name the 4
A
- rational actor model
- incremental model
- bureaucratic organization model
- belief system model
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?
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
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
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
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
9
Q
- 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
10
Q
3.3 bureaucratic organization models
A
-> highlight degree to which process influences product
two contrasting models:
1. organizational process
2. bureaucratic politics
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
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
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
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)
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
16
Q
3.4 belief system model: within policy subsystems emerge comprising collections of ppl sharing same beliefs. these operate in 3 levels…
A
- deep core beliefs
- fundamental moral/philosophical principles
- resistant to change - near-core beliefs
- policy preferences
- more disagreement and flexibility - secondary beliefs
- views abt implementation/application
- more disagreement and flexibility
17
Q
- STAGES OF THE POLICY PROCESS. Name the 4
A
- policy initiation
- policy formulation
- policy implementation
- policy evaluation
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
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
- whether formulation is based on consultation or imposition
- 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
- ROLE OF BUREAUCRACY. main function
A
-> main: policy implementation
- execution and enforcement of laws made by legislature and policies decided by executive
25
5. role of bureaucracy. they exert considerable influence on policy processes fulfilling 4 key functions
1. carrying out administration
2. offering policy advice
3. articulating and aggregating interests
4. mantaining pol stability
26
5.1 carrying out administration
- 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
5.2 policy advice
- 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
5.2 policy advice: the reality
- 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
5.3 articulating interests
- 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
5.4 political stability
- 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
5. the image of the bureaucracy
'specialists without spirit, sensualists without heart', since they have been largely associated w rationality
32
6. ORGANIZATION OF THE BUREAUCRACY. weber's theory
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
6. why is the organization of the b relevant?
1. affects degree to which public scrutiny and pol control over b can be achieved
2. influences efficiency and effectiveness
34
6. how does the org look like?
- organized on the basis of function
- construction of departments, ministries and agencies with particualr policy areas in responsibilities
(education, housing, defence, drug control...)
35
6.1 centralism or decentralism?: centralized
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
6.1 centralized or decentralized?: decentralized
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
7. SOURCES OF BUREAUCRATIC POWER. 3 sources are identified
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
7.1 strategic position
- 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
7.2 logistical relationships
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
7.3 status and expertise
-> 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
8. HOW CAN BUREAUCRATS BE CONTROLLED? accountable to... (4)
1. political executive
2. legislative
3. judicial scrutiny
4. public
42
8.1 pol executive and its influence on the b
-> responsibility for government administration
43
8.2 legislative
- oversight helps ensure political accountabilty
- effective leg control the supply of money
44
8.3 judicial scrutiny
administrative courts and tribunals resolve conflict btw gov - bureaucracies - citizens
45
8.4 public
formal: ombudsmand safeguards citizens
informal: media and public may damage their image
