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ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY:
problems of `public interest'
definition and policy implementation
Dr. John Wilton
University of Plymouth
ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY
ˇ THE CONCEPT OF `PUBLIC INTEREST'
ˇ PROBLEMS IN CREATING CONSENSUS
IN SOCIETIES
ˇ SOURCES AND ORIGINS OF PUBLIC
POLICY
ˇ PROCESSES OF POLICY
IMPLEMENTATION
ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY
ˇ THE CONCEPT OF `PUBLIC INTEREST'
­ what do we mean by `public interest'?
­ how do we define `public interest'?
ˇ moral public interest?
ˇ ethical public interest?
ˇ social public interest?
ˇ economic public interest?
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ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY
ˇ THE CONCEPT OF `PUBLIC INTEREST'
ˇ Jean-Jacques Rousseau:
­ the public interests of the individual
PLUS
the `common good'
ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY
ˇ PROBLEMS IN CREATING CONSENSUS
IN SOCIETIES
­ the importance of government legitimacy
­ processes employed in creating consensus and
legitimacy
ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY
ˇ PROBLEMS IN CREATING CONSENSUS
IN SOCIETIES
­ formal (for instance, elections and
referendums)
­ informal (for instance, campaigns and protests)
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ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY
ˇ SOURCES AND ORIGINS OF PUBLIC
POLICY
­ the `production' of public policy (how does it
emerge?)
­ the range of societal and institutional sources
of public policy (the `policy arenas' in a liberal
democracy)
ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY
ˇ SOURCES AND ORIGINS OF PUBLIC
POLICY
ˇ The Policy Arenas
ˇ 1. The Public Arena
ˇ 2. National Parliaments/Assemblies
ˇ 3. The Political Parties
ˇ 4. The Bureaucracy (Ministries/Civil
Servants)
ˇ 5. Pressure and Interest Groups
ˇ 6. The European Union
ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY
ˇ PROCESSES OF POLICY
IMPLEMENTATION
­ the balancing of `public interests
­ arbitration between social forces
­ the role of institutions
­ a policy implementation framework?
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ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY
ˇ PROCESSES OF POLICY
IMPLEMENTATION
­ private interest versus `public interest'
ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY
ˇ PROCESSES OF POLICY
IMPLEMENTATION
ˇ Policy Networks
­ industrial sector
­ education sector
­ health and social security sectors
­ environmental sector
ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY
PROCESSES OF POLICY
IMPLEMENTATION
Problems
- issues relating to conflicts of `public
interest'
- issues of rigidity and flexibility
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ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY
ˇ PROCESSES OF POLICY
IMPLEMENTATION
ˇ A Policy Implementation Framework?
­ 1. Method
­ 2. Strategy/Tactics
­ 3. Objectives and `Milestones'
­ 4. Patience and the `Long View'
­ 5. Teams and Functions
­ 6. Structures
­ 7. A Set of Rules
ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY:
problems of `public interest'
definition and policy implementation
Dr. John Wilton
University of Plymouth