Policy Analysis and Related Professions •Academic social science research •Policy research •Classical planning •Public administration •Journalism
Dec 20, 2015
Policy Analysis and Related Professions
• Academic social science research• Policy research • Classical planning• Public administration • Journalism
Academic Social Science Research
• Objective: construct theories.• Client: “Truth”• Style: Hard Science-methodological–Retrospective
• Time Constraints: Usually none.• Weakness: Relevance
Policy Research
• Objective: Predict impact of policy decisions.• Client: Actors in policy arena, other
scholars.• Style: Applied Science• Time Constraints: Some.• Weakness: “Difficulty translating
findings into governmental action.”
Classical Planning
• Objective: Planning (designing and achieving “good” society.)• Client: “Public interest”• Style: Normative• Time Constraints: Some.• Weakness: May become merely
“wishful thinking.”
Public Administration
• Objective: Execute Policy Objectives• Client: “Public interest”• Style: Managerial• Time Constraints: Tied to policy and
management.• Weakness: “Exclusion of
alternatives external to program.”
Public Administration
• Old PA views politics and administration as separate.• New PA influences policy
decisions.–Public management.
Journalism
• Objective: Focus public attention• Client: Public• Style: Descriptive• Time Constraints: Deadlines!• Weakness: “lack of analytic
depth.”
Policy Advocate
• Objective: Narrow Policy Interest• Client: Public/Private• Style: Varies• Time Constraints: Legislative cycle• Weakness:
“Biased/Interpretation.”
Policy Analysis
• Objective: Evaluate alternatives• Client: Policy-makers• Style: Synthetic (applied)• Time Constraints: Deadlines!
(decision specific)• Weakness: Client-oriented bias
Skills
• Put together relevant information. in a and useful manner• Put problems in context.• Evaluate the consequences of policy• Understanding of political
organization.• Have an ethical framework.
Ethics
• Analytical Integrity• Responsibility to Client• Adherence to One’s Personal Conception
of the Good Society
Three Roles of the Analyst
• Objective Technician (the process is important, quantifiable)
• Client Advocate (loyalty, confidentiality, shared world view)
• Issue Advocate (focus on policy outcomes, issue-oriented, i.e. the environment or abortion rights)
Dealing with Value Conflict
• Voice (working to make change from within)
• Exit (leave the organization or job)• Disloyalty (undercut the political
position or policy preference of the client)
Resulting in these combinations
• Protest (Voice)• Resign (Exit)• Sabotage (Disloyalty)• Issue Ultimatum (Voice & Exit)• Leak (Voice and Disloyalty)• Resign and Disclose (Exit & Disloyalty)• Speak out until silenced (Voice, Disloyalty
and Exit)
Some basic guidelines :
• Resignation rather than contribute to the realization of goals with which they fundamentally disagree or goals that contradict basic human rights and values
• Clients deserve complete honesty• Analysts should not use their access to
information and influence with clients to further their own private interests