PHA-Exchange> The Policy Processes

[claudio]

From: "Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia  <ruglucia at PAHO.ORG>
(Jos Mooij, Veronica de Vos: Policy Processes: Working Paper 221 - July
2003, ODI, London).
Available online as PDF file at:
 http://www.odi.org.uk/publications/working_papers/wp221.pdf

Policy processes are always formulated and implemented in particular social
and historical contexts, and these contexts do matter - in terms of which
issues are put on the policy, the shape the policy will take, the
institutions that will be involved, and the final budget allocated for the
implementation process. In short, context influences the outcome of
policies.

Policies are thus no pre-determined prescriptions resulting from of a
'rational process of problem identification by a benevolent agency (usually
the state)'.  The 'policy as prescription' approach is still way too
prevalent; the process dimensions of policy are more important and are not
to be skipped.

Policies are not 'natural phenomena' or 'automatic solutions' flowin from
the 'objective analysis' of particular social problems and they do not
privilege the state as an actor fundamentally different from, or superior
to, other social actors. The why, how and by whom questions can only be
answered by concrete empirical research with the participation of potential
beneficiaries.