Term
| Rational model and policy process |
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Definition
A process of problem-solving --> an ideal conception of how it should be organised (prescriptive, normative) --> how policies ought to evolve.
1. Collect full information (intelligence)
2. Weigh options (promotion)
3. Make a decision (prescription)
4. Enforce policy (invocation – the act of invoking something)
5. Abolish old policy (termination)
6. Evaluation of policy effects (appraisal) |
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Term
| Incremental model and policy process |
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Definition
Interaction of various actors who come up with compromise.
Bounded rationality and limited cognitive resources --> policymakers can only promote policies within the context of which they can comprehend.
--> Processing different types of information and interests
--> Different actors with different views
--> Solutions made out of information that is most satisfactory. |
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Term
| Garbage can model and policy process |
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Definition
| No orderly decision-making process --> disconnects problems, solutions and makers --> policy is the result of independent events. Solutions exist and develop independently of problems. |
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Term
Classification by implication for politics.
Lowi's typology |
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Definition
1. Distributive policies that pertain to measures which affect the distribution of re-sources (gov to recipients).
2. Redistributive policies = From one group to another
3. Regulatory policies = Constrain behaviour
4. Constituent policy = Modifying state institutions |
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Term
Are the costs and benefits concentrated or diffused and what political dynamic should be expected?
Wilson's typology |
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Definition
Both cost and beenfits are widely distributed = Majoritarian politics (e.g. health care)
Both cost and benefits concentrated = interest group politics (e.g. trade negotiations)
Concentrated costs and benefits diffuse = political entrepreneurs (e.g. protests against nuclear power)
Diffuse costs and benefits concentrated = clientelistic politics |
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Term
Typical governmental instruments
The NATO Scheme |
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Definition
Nodality = Distribution of superior knowledge within political system and society to change beliefs
Authority = Use of law as central governmental intervention
Treasure = Economic tools --> Financially incentivizing voluntary actions
Organisation = formal organisation structure to achieve policy objectives --> national defence, education, road construction etc. |
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Term
Policy dimensions:
Policy output |
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Definition
| Adaption of certain programme, law or regulation. --> E.g., tax reduction scheme for electric cars, or tax increase on tobacco |
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Term
Policy dimensions:
Policy outcome |
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Definition
| The way policies induce behavioural change --> E.g., how many people switch to electric cars, or how many people actually stops smoking |
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Term
Policy dimension:
Policy impact |
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Definition
| Have policies brought about the expected results (assessed at the evaluation stage) --> E.g., change in energy source of transportation sector, or changes in smoking prevalence |
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Term
National and international institutions:
The most essential institution |
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Definition
Constitution = defines the rules of any political system.
Defines unitarism (central sovereign government) or federalism (dispersed sovereignty and decentralized government). |
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Term
Electoral institutions
Two most basic types of electoral systems |
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Definition
Majoritarian systems --> Favours two-party systems
Proportional representation --> Favours multiparty systems. |
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Term
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Definition
Dominant party systems = one large party over long periods of time (>50%)
Two-party systems = Two equally strong parties (35-45% each)
Multiparty system = Large variances in party size (small <5, big >5) --> coalition governments
Bipolar systems = Combine multi- and two-party but steady historical alliances. |
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Term
International institutions:
Two types |
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Definition
Supranatioanl = i.e., EU
Intergovernmental = e.g.UN and WTO |
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Term
| Define supranational institution |
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Definition
- Sovereignty over member states
- Enact rules that pre-empt law of member states
- Failure to comply might launch formal infringement procedure by the commission (in EU that is) |
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Term
| Define intergovernmental institutions |
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Definition
- No sovereignty
- Impose limitations on domestic actors’ room for manoeuvre thus affecting national policy choices
- Agenda-setting power |
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Term
Structure, institutional and actor-based explanations
Macro level |
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Definition
| Varieties of capitalism and Cleavage approach |
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Term
Macro level
Varieties of Capitalism |
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Definition
| Two institutional equilibria that produce superior economic outcomes: Liberal market economies and Coordinated market economies. |
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Term
Macro level
Cleavage approach |
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Definition
6 cleavages:
- Centre-periphery
- State-church
- Rural-urban
- Capital-labour
- Materialists-post-materialist
- Open-end |
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Term
Meso level approaches
Name four. |
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Definition
- Classical institutionalism
- Sociological institutionalism
- Historical institutionalism
- Discursive institutionalism |
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Term
Mest level approach
Define classical institutionalism |
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Definition
State functioning depends not only on economic and social conditions but also on the design and effectiveness of political institutions
Lijphart defines: Majoritarian and consensus democracies --> determines policy styles (not sure if relevant) |
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Term
Meso level:
Define Sociological institutionalism |
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Definition
Actors are purposive, though purposive action is itself socially constituted in accordance with the ‘logic of appropriateness’ --> by influencing actors’ preferences and perceptions that institutions shape a polity and thereby the context in which policymaking occurs.
Also, isomorphism |
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Term
Meso level
Define isomorphism - three types |
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Definition
coercive isomorphism -->to be in line with organisations on which they are dependent,
mimetic isomorphism --> high uncertainty, mimic successful organisations to ensure legitimacy
Normative (institutional isomorphism) -->similar dominant normative orientations of staff members |
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Term
Meso level
Historical institutionalism |
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Definition
| History matters --> former choices about policies or institutions affect the range of subsequent policy options --> institutional path dependence and policy legacy |
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Term
Meso level:
Define Discursive institutionalism |
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Definition
Institutional change is explained by the importance of ideas and discourse in policymaking.
Institutional change is an endogenous process in which ideas are power. |
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Term
Micro level:
We focus on two types |
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Definition
| Strategic choice (game theory) and rational choice institutionalism |
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Term
Micro level:
Define Strategic choice (game theory) |
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Definition
| To understand policymaking, one cannot only concentrate on the actors in isolation but must pay equal attention to the ways in which they interact with one another. --> Game theory --> E.g., prisoner’s dilemma in environmental policies |
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Term
Micro level:
Define Rational choice institutionalism |
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Definition
politics as individuals acting to maximize their utility in ways that are likely to produce an outcome that is collectively suboptimal.
Collectively superior course of action is hindered by the absence of institutional arrangements. --> interests are considered primary, institutions secondary |
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Term
Policy evaluation:
Define the six types |
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Definition
1. Administrative: Reduce smoking prevalence at lowest cost
2. Economic: Costs vs. benefits of increasing taxes on cigarettes
3. Performance: We need to know whether increasing prices actually work on lowering smoking prevalence
4. Judicial: Is it legal to increase prices on tobacco?
5. Political: Can we frame increasing taxes on tobacco as a good policy?
6. Scientific: Experimental policy analysis (e.g. randomisation) |
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Term
Policy evaluation vs. political evaluation:
Define Policy evaluation |
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Definition
Scientific evaluation --> Did policy work in intended way?
-->Did it meet our goals? I.e., to lower smoking prevalence. |
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Term
| Policy evaluation vs. political evaluation |
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Definition
Political evaluation (the goal is different --> will policies lead to re-election?)
--> Re-election prospects and appearance of problem-solving |
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