Politics of Policy Politics of Policy Making: Role of Actors Making: Role of Actors

Policy ActorsPolicy ActorsWho are the actors?Actors in the policy process may be either individuals or groups

Policy actors are called policy subsystems as they constitute a forum where they discuss policy issues, persuade and bargain in pursuit of their interest.

Policy Actors-Policy Policy Actors-Policy SubsystemsSubsystems

Organization of the international system

Organization of the state

OrganizationOf the society

Policy ActorsPolicy Subsystems

Contd..Contd..During the course of interaction actors often give up or modify their objectives in return for concessions from other members of the subsystem

Institutions shape the behaviour of actors by conditioning the perceptions of their interests and affecting the probability of realizing them by constraining some choices and facilitating others.

Nature of actors varies by country, policy sectors or domain or over time.

Classification of ActorsClassification of ActorsThree major categories:1. State actors: Elected Officials Appointed Officials2. Societal actors: Interest groups Research Organizations

Media (Voters, Political parties)

3. International Actors: Organizations Donor Community

1. State Actors1. State Actors1. Elected officials (2 categories): i) Members of the

Executive/Cabinet (major role) ii) Members of the Legislature

(minor role)

i) Members of the Executive:Ultimate authority to make and

implement the policy

Contd..Contd..

The source of power:Constitution/LawControl over informationControl over fiscal resourcesAccess to mass mediaControl over bureaucracy (to provide advice and to carry out its preference)

Contd..Contd..ii) Members of the Legislature -- Not a significant actor--Policy functions are mainly performed in the Committees not on the floor of the legislature

--In a parliamentary democracy, scope of influence is minimal.

Contd..Contd..ii) Appointed Officials (Bureaucracy):The ‘key’ and ‘central figures’ of policy subsystem

Sources of Power:-- Law-- Access to material resources-- Repository of a wide range of skills and expertise

-- Access to a vast information -- Long tenure-- Close interaction with organized groups

Who is more powerful? Who is more powerful? Bureaucrats/Politicians?Bureaucrats/Politicians?

Four approaches:1.Policy/Administration Model: --Politicians decide on the policy and

bureaucrats implement -- An unrealistic model

Why abandoned?-- Due to a lack of expertise of the

politiciansto develop effective policies without the

help of bureaucrats

Contd.Contd...2. Facts/Interest Model:

-- Emphasizes bureaucrat’s monopoly over information

-- Administrators bring facts, figures and knowledge to policy making and emphasizes technical efficacy

--Politicians add political sensitivity and responsiveness through

articulating mediating & balancing diverse interests

Contd..Contd..3. Energy/Equilibrium ModelPoliticians are the energizers (deals with unorganized individuals)

-- They give policy directions inspired by the principles/interests of the masses

Bureaucrats maintain equilibrium (deals with organized groups)

-- They give policy meaning and sense by providing understanding of technical aspects through negotiation with affected parties.

Contd.Contd...

4. Pure Hybrid (Opposite to the first approach)

-- Harmonious blending between the two actors

-- A utopian model-- This is a major concern of policy making as bureaucrats often play the role of politicians

Who makes Policy? Who makes Policy? Bureaucrats/Politicians?Bureaucrats/Politicians?

It’s a key concern of policy making

Policy making is not the sole responsibility of the politicians as complexity increases, bureaucrats have to be involved in policy making.

Both contribute to policy making but bring to it differing values and attitudes

Contd.Contd...

Bureaucrats Politicians

Technical/Factual Ideological/Idealistic

Politicians set goals and bureaucrats decides the way of achieving them

Bureaucrats Politicians

Means/ Practical Ends/value laden

Type of policy—Type of policy—Determinant of their Determinant of their

rolerole1.Distributive Policy-- Less controversial-- Bureaucracy is dominant2. Regulatory Policy -- Conflict of individuals and groups

originates the policy--Bureaucrats play the mediators role- Role of Bureaucrats is more direct.

Contd.Contd...

3. Redistributive Policy (most controversial)

-- often open to debate and political by nature

-- Politicians are more involved

-- Politicians are made responsible for the policies.

2. Societal Actors2. Societal Actors Groups are the basic units of political system and political actions are the resultant of group interaction.

Groups are rarely ignoredi.Interest Groups:Individuals of a society turn into interest group as a result of the possession of common social characteristics.

Why groups are Why groups are important?important?

ii. Pressure groups: Interest groups turn into pressure

group when they want to obtain favourable decision.

Sources of Power:a. Knowledge/expertise/information They know the most about their

area of concern. Policy making is an information

intensive process.

ContdContd....b.Number:

In terms of size of membership interest groups differ greatly

c.Financial: Groups often make financial contribution to the political parties they favour.

d. Political: Sometimes they campaign for the candidates who they think would support their cause in the government (USA)

Contd.Contd...

Nature of pressure:Groups usually represent other members through communicating their interests to the public authorities.

Two ways of pressure:Groups may create pressure on govtGovernment may consult groups

Contd.Contd...

Weaknesses:Not all interests have groups to represent them

Some interests are difficult to organize due to a lack of facilities or even due to unwillingness (consumers, poor).

Contd..Contd..

iii.Civil Society: Inner voice of the societal power, which acts as a conscience of the society to check political power.

A voluntary association free from state control

Addresses common problems, advance shared interests and promote collective aspirations.

Contd..Contd..iv. Research Organizations:Organizations engaged in multi-disciplinary research intend to influence public policies

v. Mass Media:Crucial link between the state and society

Media influences the preferences of govt and the society on public problems and solutions

Contd..Contd..

Media combines the passive roles of reporters with active analysts and advocate of solutions.

Media shapes up the preferences of public and understanding of a public problem.

3. International 3. International ActorsActorsInstitutions/Bodies/countries (GATT, WTO,

TNCs)International actors influence policies through conventions, treaties

Nearly impossible for states to stop foreign influence

Sovereignty of state depends: ---severity of international pressure ---nature of issue in question ---features innate to the state(economic, military and domestic strengths)