The political process of policymaking : a pragmatic approach to public policy / Philippe Zittoun.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Zittoun, Philippe, author.

Series:

Studies in the political economy of public policy

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political planning.

Policy sciences.

Physical Description:

vi, 211 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.

Summary:

"Far from being defenceless when faced with inextricable problems such as inequality, unemployment, poverty, precarious situations or global warming, governments continuously increase the policy proposals for new action, reforms or transformation. Nevertheless, their inability to solve problems, which is occasionally penalised by democratic voting or by changeovers, never challenges the political system itself. To understand this astonishing political stability within a disordered world, Philippe Zittoun looks at the 'policymaking process' as a political activity which defines, propagates and imposes public policy proposals as a means to 'restore order' within society. Based on a significant study as well as on surveys carried out at the heart of the policymaking process, this innovative approach to public policy leads us to identify policymakers as true modern Sisyphuses."--back cover.

Contents:

Pt.1. Creating Social Disorder Constructing, Propagating, and Politicising Social Problems: A Pragmatic Approach to Public Problems

Definitional Struggles Around Unacceptable Problems

Pt.2. Defining Solution, a Complex bricolage to solve public problems: Between Stratagem and Cognitive Bricolage: The Contribution of Simon and Lindblom

From Cognitive Bricolage to Language Games

The Five Couplings in Defining Solutions

From Coupling to Restoring Political Order

Pt.3. Propagating solution, Argumentative Strategies to Cement Coalitions: Arguing to Persuade

Discussion as a Test of Persuasion Strategies

From Persuasion to Diffusion, Building Discursive Coalitions

Pt.4. Policy Statements to Legitimise 'Decision-makers': The Paradoxes of Taking Positions into Account

The Definitional Issues of a Topography of Positions

The 'Decision' to Fix Topographies Within Statements

An Empirical Example of Decision: Political Decision-making of the Paris Tramway

Conclusion: How Public Policy Shapes Politics.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781137347657

1137347651

OCLC:

880194792