At the nexus of politics and policy development lies persistent conflict over where problems come from, what they signify, and, based on the answers to those questions, what kinds of solutions should be sought. Policy researchers call this process ""problem definition.""
Written for both scholars and students, this book explains how and why social issues come to be defined in different ways, how these definitions are expressed in the world of politics, and what consequences these definitions have for government action and agenda-setting dynamics. The authors demonstrate in two theoretical chapters and seven provocative case studies how problem definition affects policymaking for high-profile social issues like AIDS, drugs, and sexual harassment as well as for problems like traffic congestion, plant closings, agricultural tax benefits, and air transportation.
By examining the way social problems are framed for political discussion, the authors illuminate the unique impact of beliefs, values, ideas, and language on the public policymaking process and its outcomes. In so doing, they establish a common vocabulary for the study of problem definition; review and critique the insights of existing work on the topic; and identify directions for future research.
At the nexus of politics and policy development lies persistent conflict over where problems come from, what they signify, and, based on the answers to those questions, what kinds of solutions should be sought. Policy researchers call this process ""problem definition.""
Written for both scholars and students, this book explains how and why social issues come to be defined in different ways, how these definitions are expressed in the world of politics, and what consequences these definitions have for government action and agenda-setting dynamics. The authors demonstrate in two theoretical chapters and seven provocative case studies how problem definition affects policymaking for high-profile social issues like AIDS, drugs, and sexual harassment as well as for problems like traffic congestion, plant closings, agricultural tax benefits, and air transportation.
By examining the way social problems are framed for political discussion, the authors illuminate the unique impact of beliefs, values, ideas, and language on the public policymaking process and its outcomes. In so doing, they establish a common vocabulary for the study of problem definition; review and critique the insights of existing work on the topic; and identify directions for future research.
"An original contribution to the way we think about how the public
deliberates about social problems."--Jeffrey R. Henig, author of
Public Policy and Federalism: Issues in State and Local
Politics"Where does policy come from? This interesting collection
helps to answer this fundamental question. It is an important
contribution to the literature on agenda setting."--H. Brinton
Milward, University of Arizona
"Offers new insights on agenda setting, problem definition, and
policy subsystem behavior."--Policy Studies Journal"A useful
addition to the literature on policy development and the policy
process and will be used in both undergraduate and graduate courses
on policymaking."--American Political Science Review"A collection
of well-written and interesting essays on policy consequences of
problem definition."--Perspectives on Political Science"The essays
coalesce nicely because of comparable interests, styles, and
tone."--Choice
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