There Are Challenges To Agenda Building That If Not Dealt Wi
There Are Challenges To Agenda Building That If Not Dealt With Careful
There are challenges to agenda building that if not dealt with carefully and skillfully can adversely affect an issue or a proposal that you are trying to place in front of a decision maker. On the other hand, no matter how expertly you build an agenda for your issue or proposal, some issues are going to simply be avoided or not selected for consideration. Why is this so? In this Small Group Discussion, you explore challenges surrounding policy agendas and the reasons why some proposals never make it to the decision maker. Provide responses to the following original colleague posts. The responses can be one paragraph per post.
Paper For Above instruction
Agenda building is a complex process influenced by multiple factors that can either facilitate or hinder the advancement of policy proposals. When stakeholders attempt to bring issues to the forefront of the policymaking process, they encounter several obstacles, including political interest conflicts, resource limitations, and the prevailing policy environment. Careful and strategic handling of these challenges can significantly increase the likelihood of an issue gaining attention; however, even the most well-constructed agendas are not immune to being overlooked or rejected. Several reasons account for why some proposals do not reach decision makers. Firstly, competing interests often prioritize issues based on political gains or electoral benefits, leaving less popular or contentious proposals sidelined (Cobb & Elder, 1983). Secondly, the agenda-setting stage is frequently influenced or dominated by powerful interest groups that can sway policymakers through lobbying and other tactics, effectively excluding less influential voices (Kingdon, 2003). Additionally, limited governmental resources and pressing crises frequently divert attention away from proposed issues, especially if they are not perceived as urgent or beneficial to the current administration (Baumgartner & Jones, 1993). Furthermore, the complexity of policy issues, coupled with insufficient public support or awareness, can lead decision makers to dismiss certain proposals as impractical or low priority (Lindblom, 1959). Thus, understanding these challenges underscores the importance of strategic coalition-building, effective communication, and timing in successfully navigating the policy agenda process.
References
- Cobb, R. W., & Elder, C. D. (1983). Participation in policy making. Johns Hopkins University Press.
- Kingdon, J. W. (2003). Agendas, alternatives, and public policies. Longman.
- Baumgartner, F. R., & Jones, B. D. (1993). Agendas and instabilities in American politics. University of Chicago Press.
- Lindblom, C. E. (1959). The science of muddling through. Public Administration Review, 19(2), 79-88.
- Stone, D. (2002). Policy paradox: The art and craft of policy analysis. W.W. Norton & Company.
- Schneider, A., & Ingram, H. (1993). Policy design for democracy. Law & Policy, 15(4), 311-332.
- Peters, B. G., & Pierre, J. (2012). Governance: A Review. In E. Ferlie, L. E. Lynn Jr, & C. Pollitt (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Public Management (pp. 167-188). Oxford University Press.
- Pressman, J. L., & Wildavsky, A. (1973). Implementation: How Great Expectations in Washington Are Dashed in Oakland; or, Why There’s No Politics Without Blame. University of California Press.
- Kingdon, J. W. (2005). Agendas, alternatives, and public policies (2nd ed.). Longman.
- Baumgartner, F. R., & Mahoney, C. (2003). The Politics of Attention: How Government Prioritizes Problems. University of Chicago Press.