Advocacy

CAMS Gathering November 2010Fiona Caniglia

What is policy?

Social policy is a process of ….allocation of material and human resources according to certain theories and values for the purpose of achieving ….social, economic, cultural and political outcomes in society.

Jamrozik, 2005:45

What is policy?

Social policy is not a static thing, nor is the society in which the policy process takes place a static thing.

Jamrozik, 2005

What is policy?

“The scope of social policy includes all areas of personal and social life which contribute to the well-being of citizens or its absence.”

Dalton et al, 1996

What is policy?

Policy is at the heart of how society is organised: Who gets what? Who wins? Who loses? Who is left to fend for themselves? Who decides?

Dalton et al, 1996

What is policy?

Legislation: the most explicit and formalised policy

Written policy Programs – policy implementation.

Dalton et al, 1996:7-8

What is policy?

“In a climate where economic values and indicators dominate policy debate we emphasise that every economic and political decision has social implications.”

Dalton et al, 1996:7

The dimension of power

Who wins? Who loses? Who decides?

Political economy tradition.Dalton et al, 1996:7

What is the policy process?

Static elements (structures) Dynamic elements A contest over social goals in which

there are many players/actors.Dalton et al, 1996:7

What is the policy process?

Linear: Planning Formulation Implementation and administration Monitoring and evaluationDalton et al, 1996:7

What is the policy process?Rational decision making Problem identification Analysis Informing the public Development of public goals Building public support and legitimation Program design Implementation Evaluation

Gilbert and Specht in Dalton et al, 1996:16

What is the policy process?

Strategic and analytical policy process: The analytical and strategic elements

of policy process The assumption that society is

complex Research is important but has limits Power is significant but not absoluteDalton et al, 1996:7

Personal, social and political self awareness Understand and articulate your own

standpoint Ask a series of questions (of yourself, the

process) Locate your own interests, purposes and

relationships to the issues Analyse personal and professional goals Analyse relevant issues and values Analyse which strategies are ethical in

gaining some power and influenceDalton et al, 1996:7

Underpinning goals and assumptions

All policy decisions involve assumptions about the nature of human beings and how societies actually work.

All policy positions taken by other stakeholders (including the non-government sector) also involve assumptions…..

An approach to policy development Problem identification Analysing the organisational, systemic and broader

societal context, issues, debates and opportunities: key stakeholders, decision making processes, key milestones, relationships, structures, points of influence (formal, bottom up, top down, informal ….)

Analyse key questions: who wins, who loses, who decides

Consider how power and influence might be exercised Develop a plan Research - evidence

An approach to policy development Engagement with stakeholders (anecdotes, case studies,

opinions, experiences, sources of evidence, solutions) Building movements, developing a policy community,

alliances, partnerships Maintain dialogue between research and engagement Develop alternatives, agree with proposals, disagree and

propose workable solutions. Publish/submit/promote Negotiations / dialogue Evaluate outcomes Continue re implementation and monitoring.Jamrozik, 2005

An approach to policy development

Publish: Submission, statement etc. Lean and mean What you want, who is responsible,

qualifying statements (if relevant), time frame.

Common problems

Over-emphasis on issues and problems and when asked, we continue to talk about issues

Lack of evidence based research Too much consultation and not

enough engagement Struggle to articulate solutions Recommendations are overly general.

The policy process

Community development and community action theories and practices contribute a lot to mobilising citizens to participate in policy making.

Dalton et al, 1996