International Public Policy and Comparative Education Summer School University of Bristol Wednesday 5 July 2006 Policy Making in Britain Dr Paul Burton School for Policy Studies

Outline  Theories of policy making –Stages –Black boxes –Models of change  Actors and interests  Power and implementation  Preparation of questions: Q & A  Summary and conclusions

What is policy?  Product or process?  Tangible or intangible?  Must it inform action, what if it is ignored?  Understanding unintended consequences

Theory of stages  Logical sequence of actions  Rational pursuit of goals  Simple and linear  Simple and cyclical  Complex and cyclical

Theory of black boxes  Inputs, processor, outputs and outcomes  Processor is mysterious  Environment provides context and stimuli

Theories of change  How and why does policy change over time? –Battle of ideas –Balance of power –Response to external forces  Advocacy coalitions

Actors and interests  Politicians and elected representatives  Civil servants, bureaucrats and administrators  Lobbyists and pressure groups  Political parties  Voluntary organisations and charities  Media  The people

Policy and implementation  What happens after policy is made? –Is it acted upon? –Is it ignored? –Is it modified?

Policy and implementation  How do we understand implementation? –Top down –Bottom up –Negotiation in networks

Conditions for effective implementation  Clear policy  Agreement from all parties (actors)  Clear implementation plan (actions)  Sufficient resources  Sufficient time  Commitment to act: not a symbolic policy

Power and implementation  Implementation as negotiation  Negotiation involves power  How do we understand power? –A finite thing –A relationship –The power of ideas

Implementation and discretion  Policy cannot cover every eventuality  What should be done when there is a policy gap?  What should be done if the policy does not seem relevant? Exercise discretion!  Discretion: good or bad?

Questions and answers  In four groups (30 minutes): –Reflect on what I have said about policy making in the UK –Think about how policy is made in Taiwan –Prepare some questions for me about the nature of policy making in Britain

Summary and Conclusions  Policy is a slippery concept  Understanding policy making is not easy  Be prepared for complexity  We often use models and metaphors to help our understanding  Distinguish normative and positive: ought and is  Remember: context is crucial