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405, Public Policy Making &Analysis Unit – I: Public Policy: Concepts and Theories DIRECTORATE OF DISTANCE EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF JAMMU JAMMU SELF LEARNING MATERIAL M. A. POLITICAL SCIENCE Paper : Public Policy Making & Policy Analysis Unit : I-IV Course No. : POL 405 PROF. BALJIT SIGH Dr . MAMTA SHARMA Course Co-ordinator IN-CHARGE P.G. POL SCIENCE, HOD,DEPTT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE DDE,UNIVERSITY OF JAMMU. UNIVERSITY OF JAMMU. http:/ www. distanceeducationju.in Printed and Published on behalf of the Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, Jammu by the Director, DDE University of Jammu, Jammu. 1 M. A. POLITICAL SCIENCE Course Contributors : Format Editing • Y. Pardhasaradhi • Dr. V. Nagendra Rao [email protected] © Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, Jammu, 2021 • All rights reserved . No part of this work may be reproduced in any form, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission in writing from the DDE , University of Jammu. • The script writer shall be responsible for the lesson / script submitted to the DDE and any plagiarism shall be his / her entire responsibility. Printed by : M/S NAVRANG PRINTERS /2021/200Nos. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Writer Page UNIT Public Policy: Concepts and Theories I 1.1 Public Policy :Meaning, Basis and Rationale Y. Pardhasaradhi 1.2 Objectives and Types of Public Policy Y. Pardhasaradhi 1.3 Levels of Public Policies Formulation Y. Pardhasaradhi 1.4 Theories of Policy Analysis (Rational-Compreh ensive, Mixed –Scanning, System and Elite) Y. Pardhasaradhi UNIT Policy Making Process II 2.1 Environmental Constituents of Public Policy Making: Geographic, Demographic, Cultural and Socio-Economic Y. Pardhasaradhi 2.2 Public Policy Formulation: Official and Unofficial Participants Y. Pardhasaradhi 2.3 Public Policy: Problems, Proposals and Agenda Y. Pardhasaradhi 2.4 Public Policy: Alternatives, Choices and Decision Criteria Y. Pardhasaradhi UNIT Policy Analysis III 3.1 Features, Perspectives and Methods Y. Pardhasaradhi 3.2 Models for Policy Analysis: Mass, Incremental, Group and Institutional Y. Pardhasaradhi 3.3 Sound Policy Making in Democratic Societies : Problems and challenges Y. Pardhasaradhi 3.4 Socio Economic and Political : Dynamics of public policy in India (official and non- official ) Y. Pardhasaradhi UNIT Policy Implementation and Evaluation IV 4.1 Policy Implementation: Agencies and Problems Y. Pardhasaradhi 4.2 Public Policy: Impact, Compliance and Non- compliance Y. Pardhasaradhi 4.3 Policy Evaluation: Monitoring Techniques, Cost-benefit Analysis and Problems Y. Pardhasaradhi 4.4 Policy Evaluation Processes in India and USA: A Comparative Analysis Y. Pardhasaradhi SOURCES AND FURTHER READINGS 3 PREFACE Public policy making is the principal function of the state. Since its formulation is a complex and dynamic process, no theoretical model is adequate to explain the policy formulation totally. Public policy making is a complex, dynamic process whose components make different contributions to it. It decides major guidelines for action directed at the future, mainly by the governmental organs. These policies firmly aim at achieving what is in the public interest by the best possible means. Public policy can be authoritative allocation of values by the political system, a slight variation from the previous or existing policy, equilibrium reached out of the competing group struggle, a rational choice or the preference of the governing elite. It can also be a combination of these processes. In policy formulation various agencies participate directly or indirectly. The role of the governmental agencies is direct while the role of the non-governmental agencies indirect. Some of the agencies, which take part in policy formulation, are legislature, cabinet, state governments, civil servants, judiciary, boards and commissions, mass media, political parties, pressure groups and public. Shaping Public policy is a complex and multifaceted process that involves the interplay of numerous individuals and interest groups competing and collaborating to influence policy makers to act in a particular way. These individuals and group use a variety of tactics and tools to advance their aims including advocating their positions publicity attempting to educate supporters and opponents and mobilizing allies on a particular issue. Indian Experience In India, the formulation of Public Policy is highly complex than any other nation because of the existence of a federal polity, diversity and pluralistic nature of society. In addition to this, people belonging to different regions, political representatives and industrialists makes conflicting demands and bring pressures on various branches of governments i.e., the executive, legislature and judicial which are involved in public policy formulation process. In India various political parties participates in elections to form the government. They 4 prepare a manifesto which consists of its policy on socio-economic and political fronts to attract the attention of voters. After elections the party won the elections forms the government and try to fulfil its electoral promises. So the policies and initiatives begin at the party level and later get formalized after the party comes to powers. This party provides direction to the policies. The prime Minister and his cabinet gives a concrete shape to the policies. Cabinet secretariat, the Prime Minister’s secretariat, the standing committees and advisory render assistance to the Prime Minister in policy-making process. The cabinet headed by Prime minister gives final touches to the policies. They play a significant role in national policy formulation. Bureaucracy In India the bureaucracy also plays a key role in the policy formulation process. Bureaucracy by virtue of its wide experience in administration plays a critical role in initiating policy. Bureaucracy’s close liaison with major interest groups also enables it to recommend and implement public policies. The role of the bureaucracy in policy process varies from level to level and situation to situation. At certain state of its operations, the bureaucracy performs what is known as surveillance functions, while at other stages it is the diagnostic function, finding precise source of maladies. At certain stages it act like antenna functions i.e., keeping track-on what is required by the government at particular junctions. And other times, it may perform the function of proposing an alternative policy framework. However, emphasis on each of these functions of bureaucracy is subject to the political dynamics within which it operates. Constitutionally all policy matters must obtain final approval of Parliament. This Material For several reasons, this is a particularly right and perfect time to study public policy and it is continue to be so far the future. In developing this area of public policy, this book is organized into four sections. The first unit of four lessons are related to meaning, objectives, types, levels and theories of policy analysis. Unit II is on policy making process consists with constituents, policy formulation, problems and alternatives. Unit III explains features, models, problems of sound policy making with dynamics of socio economic and political context. The final and IV unit concentrates on policy implementation, impact, evaluation and a comparison policy evaluation process. We hope that this material will help the students to understand the public policy and its evolution. 5 M.A. Political Science, Semester IV, Course No. 405, Public Policy Making &Analysis Unit – I: Public Policy: Concepts and theories 1.1 PUBLIC POLICY : MEANING, BASIS AND RATIONALE - Y. Pardhasaradhi STRUCTURE 1.1.0 Objectives 1.1.1 Introduction 1.1.2 Meaning of Public Policy 1.1.3 Basis of Public Policy 1.1.4 Scope of Public Policy 1.1.5 Nature of Public Policy 1.1.6 Public Policy as Policy Science 1.1.6.1 Working Definition 1.1.6.2 Characteristics of Policy Sciences 1.1.6.3 Nature, Scope and Utility of Policy Sciences 1.1.6.4 Evolution of Policy Science 1.1.6.5 Development of Policy Sciences during 1970s and 80s 1.1.7 Key Factors and Considerations in Public Policy Development 1.1.8 Let Us Sum UP 1.1.9 Exercise 6 1.1.0 OBJECTIVES After going through this lesson, you will be able to know: meaning, nature and scope of Public Policy; the importance of Public Policy as a Policy Sciences; objectives of Public Policy; and basis and rationale of Public Policy. 1.1.1 INTRODUCTION Public Policy is as old as Political Science and Public Administration. But the concept of Public Policy as an academic pursuit emerged in the late half of twentieth century and since then it has been acquiring new dimensions. Since the beginning the studies on public policies were dominated by researchers and students of both Public Administration and Political Science. Public administration was to some extent preoccupied with the activities of administrative machinery, their structures and their success in achieving their targets/goals. It hardly recognized the role of organizations that played towards the formulation of policies as one of its main concerns. Yet the policy is an important element of the administrative process. Policy implies a decision as to what should be done and how, when it should be done. In the words of Paul Appleby “the essence of public administration is policy making”. Public Policy is concerned with the pattern of actions directed at social problems or goals and considerable progress has been in understanding policy content and processes. 1.1.2 MEANING OF PUBLIC POLICY The policy is the government’s course of action to achieve the desired ends. Public Policy includes whatever government intends to undertake or not to undertake. As said by Thomas dye, policy can be defined broadly as “whatever government choose to do or not to do”. In other words Public Policies are the governmental rules and programmes, considered individually and collectively, formulated for the purpose of affecting positive change. Public Policy is basically a set of rules and regulations set forth that the public law is expected to adhere to. The term Public Policy always refers to the actions of the government and the intentions that determine these actions.
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