POLICY

PUBLIC POLICY: KEY ISSUES,

Definition of policy terms

Ø  Policy

Ø  Policy analysis

Ø  Policy management

Ø  Nature of policy (public policy)

Ø  Policy process

POLICY

Academically there is no single universal definition of policy; scholars have provided several definitions I regard to policy the definition and nature. These include

Ranney (1968) defined policy as the declaration and implementation of intent

David Eastone (1953) defined policy as authoritative allocation, through political process, of values to groups or individuals in a society

Hanekon defined policy by looking at policy making as the publication of goals and policy statement as to make the goals known, formal articulation, the declarations of intent, or publication of intent to be pursued. Therefore public policy is the articulation of formal goals that the legistrators intend to pursue within the society or within a societal group.

Dye defines policy as a comprehensive framework of and/or interactions

Starling (1979) defined policy as king of guide that delimits action

Baker, Micheal, and Preston (1975) defined policy as a mechanism employed to realize societal goals and to allocate resources

With these definition some issues can be quoted in regard to policy

Ø  Policy must have intentions

Ø  Policy must take consideration of societal values

Ø  Must passed through certain process

Ø  Must target either the general public or part of the group

Dunn (2008) tries to define policy by looking at etymology he argued that the term policy comes from Greek, Sanskrit and Latin language.  In Greek and Sanskrit the term “polis” means “city-state” and “pur” means “city” developed into Latin “politia” means “state” and later in Middle English “policie” means the conduct of the government or administration of government.

 

 

Policy analysis

Dunn defined policy analsysi as the applied social science discipline that us multiple methods of inquiry and argument to produce and transform policy relevant information that may be utilized in political setting to resolve policy problems.

Policy types

Ø  Sectoral policies

Ø  Regulatory policies

Ø  Developmental or growth policies

Ø  Welfare policies

Policy levels

Ø  Policy functions-administrative, executive, political  etc

Ø  Geographical levels – internationals, national, provincial/state, regional /district etc

Policy instrument

Ø  Persuasive and inducement of  citizens voluntary compliance

Ø  Coercive

Policy instruments can also be best described as follows

Ø  Constitution

Ø  Parliament by passing regulations and decleration

Ø  Delegetive legistralation/subordinate legistration

Ø  Policy white and green paper

Ø  Strategic plan and strategies

Ø  Administrative circulars

Ø  Procedural guidelines

Ø  And others