Punctuated Evolution in Policy Change

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Questions and Answers

What is a significant factor that leads to radical change according to the information provided?

Static policymaking processes

Crisis and its narrative (correct)

Control of problem definition by elites

Incremental policy adaptations

How does the normal period of policymaking differ from radical institutional innovation?

Normal periods involve more public scrutiny.

Radical innovation emerges from strategic learning.

Normal periods operate within a defined set of values. (correct)

Radical innovation is largely influenced by policy elites.

What does the punctuated evolution model emphasize about the stability and change relationship?

That stability and change are completely independent.

The unidimensional perspective of change.

The dualism between stability and change. (correct)

The predictability of institutional responses.

According to Marsh's response to Hay's model, what aspect of change does Hay overly emphasize?

The agency of individuals in bringing about change. Signup and view all the answers

What does Bates and Smith's perspective add to the understanding of the stability/change relationship?

Empirical mapping highlights complexity. Signup and view all the answers

What is implied by the statement 'observation is theory-laden'?

Observations are affected by prior theories. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the critique of positivism?

It highlights differences in understanding social versus natural phenomena. Signup and view all the answers

According to critical realism, what is the relationship between reality and our knowledge of it?

Reality exists independently of our knowledge but can be misunderstood. Signup and view all the answers

What does interpretivism suggest about social reality?

Social reality is constructed through individual interpretations and consensus. Signup and view all the answers

How do social structures differ from natural structures according to the content?

Social structures depend on the agents’ perceptions and activities. Signup and view all the answers

What element is considered a part of the foundational ontology of critical realism?

Reality exists independently of human understanding. Signup and view all the answers

What is an implication of social structures being 'relatively enduring'?

Their characteristics may change over time and are context-dependent. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for knowledge to be 'theoretically-laden'?

Knowledge is constructed based on pre-existing theories and goals. Signup and view all the answers

What is foundational ontology in positivism?

The assertion that the world exists independently of our knowledge of it. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the aim of social science according to positivism?

To craft causal statements explaining relationships between social phenomena. Signup and view all the answers

According to Popper's critique of positivism, how does science progress?

Through the logic of falsification and revisions of hypotheses. Signup and view all the answers

How do epistemological positions relate to methodological positions?

They are distinct but related, influencing data collection and analysis. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main critiques of the positivist perspective?

It acknowledges biases in observations and interpretations. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following distinguishes empirical questions from normative questions?

Empirical questions ask about what is, while normative questions ask about what should be. Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of WYSIWYG imply in positivism?

Everything that can be observed is representative of the whole reality. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of theory in positivism?

Theories generate hypotheses that can be tested through direct observation. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement reflects Hay's strategic-relational approach to structure and agency?

Structures and agency are co-constitutive and analytically related. Signup and view all the answers

How does Marsh critique the strategic-relational approach?

It cannot adequately capture the dialectical relationship. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the concept of habitus?

Socially acquired and culturally embodied predispositions. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of thick and thin constructivism, which statement is accurate?

Thick constructivism favors ideational factors and constitutive logics. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the relationship between agents and structures in the dialectical view proposed by Marsh?

Agents interpret and change the context in which they act. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the actions of agents within Hay's strategic-relational framework?

Agents contribute to the strategic context through their actions. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of social reality is emphasized by habitus in relation to cognition?

Cognitive structures originate socially and are influenced by habitus. Signup and view all the answers

How do subconscious effects of structures impact agents according to Marsh's viewpoint?

They can limit agents' ability to act strategically. Signup and view all the answers

What does the double hermeneutic suggest about interpretations?

Observers interpret the actors' interpretations. Signup and view all the answers

How do modern scholars view the relationship between structure and agency?

They view them as dualities rather than dualisms. Signup and view all the answers

In Giddens’ structuration theory, how are structure and agency characterized?

As a duality due to their interdependence. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key component of Archer’s morphogenetic approach?

It includes a three-phase cycle of change. Signup and view all the answers

According to Hay's critique, what does he argue about structure and agency?

They are only analytically separate and cannot exist in isolation. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes Hay's strategic-relational approach?

Neither agents nor structures are real outside of their relational context. Signup and view all the answers

What does T1 in Archer’s morphogenetic approach represent?

Structural conditioning from a pre-existing context. Signup and view all the answers

How does Hay criticize Giddens’ approach?

For presenting a non-dialectical view of structure and agency. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Change and Evolution Models

Change is a constant feature of systems and never simply a reproduction of what existed before.
The extent of change is context-dependent, as highlighted by the punctuated evolution model.
Rapid change often stems from crises and the narratives constructed around those crises, leading to radical shifts in policy and institutional innovation.

Normal vs Radical Policy Making

Normal policy responses consist of actions by elites within established values and definitions, focusing on strategic learning leading to gradual evolution.
Radical policy shifts occur when elites lose control over problem definitions, allowing for wide awareness of issues and potential paradigm shifts if a successful crisis narrative emerges.

Critiques of Hay’s Model

Marsh argues Hay oversimplifies the stability/change dynamic, focusing too much on change and not appreciating the nuances of stability.
Hay's model is criticized for privileging individual agency and material factors over broader structural and ideational components.

Spatial Dimension of Change

Bates and Smith advocate for empirical mapping over theoretical modeling to capture the intricate relationship between stability and change, suggesting a spatial aspect of change.
Hay's view is labeled as unidimensional, lacking consideration of the interplay between stability and change across different contexts.

Ontological and Epistemological Considerations

Ontological debates address whether a single, objective reality exists or if reality is socially constructed and interpreted differently.
Methodological positions bridge ontological and epistemological assumptions, influencing data collection and analysis approaches.

Epistemological Positions: Positivism

Positivism posits an independent, observable reality, akin to natural sciences, focusing on hypothesis testing and empirical relationships.
Separates empirical (what is) from normative (what should be) questions regarding social phenomena.
Karl Popper's critique emphasizes the importance of falsification in scientific progress, challenging the idea of objective observation.

Critiques of Positivism

Positivism is criticized for failing to account for the subjective interpretation of social phenomena and for oversimplifying the relationship between social constructs and reality.
Social structures are seen as influenced by agents' actions and perceptions, unlike natural structures that exist independently.

Alternative Epistemological Approaches

Critical Realism: Acknowledges independent reality but suggests that appearances can be misleading; reality includes deeper structures not directly observable.
Interpretivism: Defines reality as socially constructed through intersubjective agreement, emphasizing the role of interpretation in understanding social phenomena.

Structure vs Agency

Modern scholars suggest viewing structure and agency as dualities, not dualisms, with dialectical interactions.
Giddens’ structuration theory emphasizes interdependence between structure and agency, whereas Marsh critiques it for not allowing a dialectical view.

Morphogenetic Approach

Archer's approach distinguishes between structure and agency with a three-phase cycle of structural conditioning, social interaction, and resultant structural changes (morphogenesis/morphostasis).
Hay critiques this dualism, suggesting that agents and structures cannot exist independently.

Hay's Strategic-Relational Approach

Both structure and agency exist in relational contexts; neither holds independent power.
Focuses on how strategic actors interact within contexts, shaping their strategic positioning.

Dialectical Relationship Model

Marsh proposes a conceptualization where structures provide context for agent actions, affecting preferences and interpretations while allowing for change through agent behavior.
Social structures are both material and ideational, influencing agents subconsciously while also being transformed through their actions.

Habitus refers to socially embedded dispositions influencing cognition and behavior, illustrating how our perceptions are shaped by social contexts.
Thin constructivism values material factors, while thick constructivism prioritizes ideational factors. Both acknowledge a dialectical relationship between the material and ideational realms.

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Description

Explore the dynamics of punctuated evolution in policymaking and the impact of crises on institutional innovation. This quiz delves into the differences between normal policymaking and radical changes driven by effective crisis narratives.