Government Policies and Social Control

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

How did feminists initially try to address the issue of child sexual abuse?

Through lobbying government officials

Through direct therapy and support groups (correct)

Through public protests and demonstrations

Through social media campaigns

What was a key factor in feminists' ability to publicize the issue of child sexual abuse?

Their development of expertise through statistics and figures (correct)

Their ability to organize large-scale protests

Their use of social media platforms

Their connections with policymakers

How did feminists build support for their cause?

By organizing boycotts

By holding large-scale rallies

By building coalitions with lobby groups and professionals (correct)

By working with doctors and psychiatrists

What was the outcome of feminists' efforts to publicize the issue of child sexual abuse?

The issue became a public problem recognized by public authorities Signup and view all the answers

What phase began after the success of feminists' efforts to publicize the issue of child sexual abuse?

The decision phase Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of feminist activists in addressing the issue of child sexual abuse?

They played a key role in publicizing the issue Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the typology in public policies?

The diversity of public policies Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a constraint policy?

Speed limitations Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of the typology?

It is not exhaustive Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a redistributive policy?

Taxation on cigarettes Signup and view all the answers

How many sequences are divided in the sequential analysis model?

5 Signup and view all the answers

What is the policy cycle also known as?

The sequential analysis model Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of public policies according to the text?

They are a series of decisions and interactive effects Signup and view all the answers

Who introduced the sequential analysis model?

Charles Jones Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference in public action between 30 years ago and today?

It covers a broader area Signup and view all the answers

Why are taxes lower in the US compared to Europe?

Because public policies in the US focus on regulation rather than spending programs Signup and view all the answers

Who is the author of the book 'Politics: Who gets What, When, How'?

Harold D. Lasswell Signup and view all the answers

What is emphasized in the definition of public policy by Harold D. Lasswell?

The social dimension of public policies Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of the definition of public policy by Harold D. Lasswell?

It is very imprecise Signup and view all the answers

What do public policies represent for individuals according to the definition by Harold D. Lasswell?

Both resources and constraints Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the agenda-setting phase?

To identify and define social needs Signup and view all the answers

Who participates in the identification of problems during the agenda-setting phase?

Both State and non-State actors Signup and view all the answers

What happens during the decision phase?

A policy program is developed Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the implementation phase?

To apply the measures decided upon by public authorities Signup and view all the answers

What may occur at the end of the evaluation phase?

A new problem is identified and a new cycle begins Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of non-State actors during agenda-setting?

To identify and name problems Signup and view all the answers

How many phases are there in the policy process?

5 Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of the evaluation phase?

Measuring and analyzing the results of a policy Signup and view all the answers

What are two important dimensions of public action often forgotten in the grid?

Symbolic and multiple constraints Signup and view all the answers

What is the symbolic dimension of a public policy concerned with?

The demonstration of attention to the problem Signup and view all the answers

What is the grid considered to be?

A stylized representation of reality Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a public problem becoming a public policy?

Child sexual abuse in Europe in the 1980s Signup and view all the answers

What can gestures of public authorities promise?

More than reality Signup and view all the answers

What weighs on public policies?

Multiple constraints, including context and availability of instruments Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of the symbolic dimension in public policy?

It is the most important part of the policy Signup and view all the answers

What is the grid likened to in terms of its representation of reality?

A stylized representation of reality, similar to a Weberian ideal type Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Types of Public Policies

Constraint policies: state condemns certain individual behaviors, e.g., social insurance, progressive taxation
Immediate constraints: policies rely on sanctions, e.g., speed limitations

Limitations of Typology

Not exhaustive: does not include direct intervention policies or incentive policies
Unidimensional: does not account for multidimensional nature of public policies

Public Policy as a Dynamic Process

Series of decisions and interactive effects
Analyzing public action through sequences

The Policy Cycle

Sequential analysis model: public action divided into sequences
5 sequences:
- Agenda-setting: identification of a problem, definition of social needs, acknowledgment of needs by authorities
- Decision: development of a policy program, formulation of a solution, choice of a proposal, legitimization of the decision
- Implementation: application of the program by public authorities
- Evaluation: measurement and analysis of the results
- Feed-back loop: sometimes allows for the identification of a new problem and reformulation of solutions

Criticisms of the Policy Cycle

Reality is more chaotic than the sequential grid suggests
Two important dimensions forgotten: multiple constraints (context, other policies, availability of instruments, legacy of the past) and symbolic dimension (speeches, communications)

Definition of Public Policy

“Who gets what, when and how?” (Harold D. Lasswell, 1936)
Emphasis on social dimension and impact of public policies
Limitations: imprecise definition, unclear who the actors are, what the processes are

Case Study: Child Sexual Abuse

Laurie Boussaguet's research on agenda-setting process in Europe in the 1980s
Illustrates how and why a public problem becomes a public policy

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz covers government policies and their impact on individual behaviors, including social insurance, progressive taxation, and speed limitations.